MARK Shail may have emerged battered and bruised from his encounter with Adie Mings but after missing so much of the season he relished every second of his clash with the Chippenham man-mountain.

The powerful Mings, who made one appearance for City in the early 1990s, put Shail through his paces and the veteran defender needed all his experience to keep the striker in check.

It's testimony to his enduring abilities that Shail came through it unscathed - but the old adage about class being permanent certainly fits the bill with Shail who has played less than a handful of games since injuring his knee in September.

Shail enjoyed his contest with Mings though it was still scant consolation for sitting out so much of City's campaign.

"I have known Adie for a long time and we always have a good battle," said Shail.

"But once its over you shake hands and have a beer and chat in the bar afterwards.

"Coming back from a long lay-off is not easy and there have been limited chances to get match fit, even with the reserves, so to a certain extent I was in at the deep end.

"But I've been doing a fair amount of fitness work on my own although you can't get match fitness without games where that extra bit of sharpness comes from."

At the age of 36 Shail's playing days may be numbered but the ex-Bristol City, Yeovil and Kidderminster Harriers defender, has not even given his playing future a second thought.

"I haven't even thought about it," he said. "I've got increasing work commitments with the PFA but I haven't made any decision. It's a long way off and we'll wait and see.

"It's been frustrating to have missed such a large chunk of the season but I've not been alone and it's been the same for a few of us.

"The overriding feeling though is frustration. I came back to the club with the aim of one last flourish. City havn't had a decent finish since I was last here and I wanted to come back with John Barton and have one last push and go at it.

"I played the first 10 games or so but was then injured. The lads have done really well without four or five key players and it's been a good season but disappointing from my point of view."

Another of City's long term injury casualties David Foy is poised to make his return to competitive action with a reserve team outing at the weekend. Foy ruptured a cruciate knee ligament during September's clash with Tamworth at St George's Lane.

Don't miss Saturday's Evening News with the start of Lane Legends a brand new competition to find out who are Worcester City's top 11 players of yesteryear.