JON Holloway has been doing an admirable job shoring up the centre of Worcester City's defence in place of the injured Mark Shail -- but he still hankers after a midfield slot.

Despite impressive displays at right-back and as a centre-back alongside Carl Heeley, the ex-Bath City man would love another stab in the position he occupied for much of last year.

"I still think I could do a job in the centre of the park and that is where I would like to play," he said. "I had two years at Bath in that position and unless you are in a team that plays football more than 90 percent of games at this level are won in the midfield so that is where all the action is.

"But the gaffer's brought some new lads in and this game is about the team and not individuals so I'm happy to play where I'm needed."

City boss John Barton began the season with Holloway at right back and his early displays were a revelation.

Full back however is a position he knows well, and enjoys,- having started his senior career as a right back at Gloucester City.

"I do enjoy it because you get to go up and down the line and I've got quite a good engine," he commented.

Shail's injury forced Barton to switch Holloway inside, another role he has played before but one with totally different demands.

"I started my youth career as a centre-half but at 5ft 10in I think I need a couple more inches for that position," he said.

"I see centre-half as about stopping the striker playing, there is not a lot of time to play, the game's just about stopping the forwards."

City's promising start has not come as a surprise to Holloway but he warns against any complacency.

"The league is so tightly contested that I'm not surprised to see us up there, but if you are not right you will get beaten, it's as simple as that," he added.

"More often than not we have been right and managed to grind out results but there is only a quarter of the season gone so we can't take anything for granted."

Stewart Hadley is optimistic of a return to action before Christmas following a visit to the specialist last Friday.

His Achilles is not as badly damaged as first feared with just the sheath of the tendon requiring treatment.