EBBY Nelson-Addy is close to signing for Worcester City as manager Carl Heeley looks to inject “pace and energy” into his side.

The attacking midfielder, who was released by League Two side Hartlepool United in May, has been training with City over the past two weeks.

Manager Carl Heeley said he had “always kept in touch” with the 23-year-old, who played 33 games for Worcester in the 2013-14 campaign and had a spell on loan at the club last season.

And, after impressing on trial this summer, Heeley says he is hoping to seal the deal with Nelson-Addy ahead of the new season, which starts on Saturday.

“There is going to be an announcement early this week regarding Ebby and I think people will be pleased with what we have managed to do with him,” Heeley said.

“He is a player I have liked for a number of years and I have always kept in touch with.

“We need some ratification first from the authorities but, all being well, everything should be fine.”

Since returning to the Vanarama National League North outfit, the former Aston Villa youngster has inspired City to three successive wins in pre-season.

Ex-Port Vale winger Chekaine Steele has also made an impression over those matches, while an unnamed trialist struck twice in City’s 2-1 victory over Leamington.

Heeley said the trio have provided what his side were “lacking” and believed they could form part of the club’s next talented group of young guns.

“Ebby has got unbelievable pace and energy and he has got goals,” Heeley said.

“He is what I thought we were lacking but you saw the three lads who all played behind the striker gave us what we were hoping they would give.

“They provided us with lots of pace, lots of energy, great work-rate and provided a threat for us.

“Don’t get me wrong, that is a relatively young team out there, so they are going to make mistakes and they are going to do things that may frustrate supporters.

“But you have to stick with them and you have to keep believing in them.

“You have to allow them to make mistakes and learn the game because we have seen that when you do that you can get lads like George Williams, Dan Nti and Tristian Dunkley, who have developed into very good players.

“Hopefully we have got the next crop of those.”

With less than a week to go before City kick off the season against Harrogate Town at the Victoria Ground, Heeley says he is keen to bolster his squad.

“Every manager will think they have got enough to win the league at this point. Some might be right but most will get a right shock, so we will see,” he said.

“We have got as much as we can into the squad at this moment in time but there is another week to go and I would not rule out further opportunities cropping up for us.”