LUCKLESS Jimmi-Lee Jones is delighted to ditch the leg plaster as he continues his long road to recovery.

The unfortunate Worcester City striker fractured the tibia in his right leg three months ago, an injury that ruled him out for the entire season.

Jones suffered the shin break from an innocuous block tackle during November's Worcestershire Senior Cup win at Stourport Swifts.

Ironically, that tie was Jones' first senior start since joining City last summer -- a golden opportunity to stake his claim for a regular first-team spot.

And in a cruel twist, that shin break was a repeat of the damage the former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward suffered in Ireland last season.

At eircom League Premier Division side St Patrick's Athletic, Jones was sidelined for almost eight months.

"It was more or less the same injury," admits the 22-year-old. "I just couldn't believe my bad luck. It's my shin bone and it takes a very long time to heal.

"Although it's the same injury, it's not the same break. The two are not connected, so I'm unlucky in that respect.

"I can't remember exactly how it happened. We both went for the ball and kicked it at the same time. I'm not sure whether I got the ball first or what, but it was not a nasty challenge."

So for the second time in his young career, Jones was cast in plaster for 12 weeks and left twiddling his thumbs at his Bridgnorth home.

He added: "In the first six weeks, the plaster was above my knee, so I could not bend my leg. I was on crutches and basically spent most of my time at home.

"When that plaster was cut off, I had another plaster below my knee. I was then able to bend my leg, but I could not walk properly.

"The only pain I felt was in that first week. Once the leg was settled in plaster, the pain went because I was putting no weight on it.

"The plaster is all off now. I can walk about quite easily and drive my car, but it is not fully healed.

"There's a lot more work needed to get it right. Over the last 12 weeks, so much muscle weight has gone.

"Hopefully, I will be able to start jogging in the next four or five weeks."

Jones made nine substitute appearances in Nationwide North and admits the injury came at a bad time, as he felt he was close to making a first-team breakthrough.

He added: "I had a chance to score a few goals coming on as sub and I scored a few goals in the reserves."