TROUBLED Worcester City have had the bonus of an early Christmas present.

That was the return to action of defender Carl Heeley, just 11 weeks after suffering horrendous facial injuries that threatened his career.

The 29-year-old made his first-team comeback in Saturday's goalless draw against Hastings Town, having turned out for the reserves in a Central Conference game at Cheltenham a few days earlier.

His return gave a much-needed lift to everyone at City following the departure of manager George Rooney.

Heeley said: "It is a real plus point that I am playing before Christmas which I didn't really think I would do.

"I played in midweek and had only done a couple of training sessions before that game. But I didn't have any psychological problems with the injury, and I had kept my fitness reasonably good so I didn't see any reason to wait.

"I set a target of the FA Trophy game at Havant & Waterlooville to come back, basically because I didn't think my fitness would be anywhere near, but it hasn't been too bad."

Heeley had been City's outstanding player in the early part of this season until the fateful FA Cup tie at Mangotsfield, when in a freak accident, he was kicked in the face as he tried to head the ball clear.

The impact sent one single fracture right across his face, through both cheekbones and the bridge of his nose, and he needed an eight-hour operation at Bristol's Frenchay Hospital to repair the damage.

Heeley wondered himself if he would ever return in the immediate aftermath of the injury. "I think I probably thought I wouldn't play again on the Saturday night and maybe on the Sunday as well.

"But once I started to realise what had happened to me on the Monday, there was no doubt that I would play on.

"My face still feels a little bit strange, and they have told me there may possibly be permanent nerve damage, but it could take up to two years for it all to come back."

Heeley has also gone back to work after an extended lay-off, and added: "I am glad it is all over. There is a bit of a way to go to get back to my best, but the more important thing is that my girlfriend is glad I am playing again - she can have a break now."

Heeley will play a full part in City's hectic festive programme in the Dr Martens League Premier Division, which sees them play four games in just eight days.

They begin with a derby game at Bromsgrove Rovers on Saturday, followed by home clashes with Gloucester City on Monday and Tamworth on New Year's Day and a trip to Weymouth on January 2 (all 3.0).

City's reserves have an 11.30am kick-off for their Boxing Day home clash with Stourbridge in the Endsleigh Midland Combination.

Wednesday, December 23, 1998.