WORCESTER City manager Andy Preece expects the players to be in good shape as they return for pre-season training.

The squad reported back for their first session in more than two months yesterday and will train again today and at least twice more during the week.

This weekend is being spent at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire where the players will undergo a fitness assessment and have use of the pitches.

However, Preece is hoping fitness work will be minimal and the squad, who will train in Worcester during the week, can get down to working on his plans for the new season.

The boss said: "We will be working on fitness but that will depend on how the players have worked over the summer. They have had programmes to keep to. Hopefully we can get the footballs out pretty quickly and the first game is in a week's time.

"It will be a little bit of work in the gym but mainly it will be working with the footballs."

City's first pre-season friendly is just seven days away when they face tenants Evesham United at St George's Lane before matches against Bromsgrove Rovers, Walsall, Yeovil, Stockport and Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, summer soccer schools are being run by City's development scheme.

They take place at Bishop Perowne College, Merriman's Hill, over a four-week period in July and August.

Staffed by qualified Football Association coaches, the cour-ses are for children aged five to 15-years-old, who will all receive free tickets to a City home Blue Square North match.

Sessions run between 10am and 3pm and cost £7.50 per day or £30 per week for the first three weeks and £24 for the fourth.

Dates: Monday, July 23, to Friday, July 27; Monday, July 30, to Friday, August 3; Monday, August 6, to Friday, August 10; Tuesday, August 28 to Friday, August 31.

For a registration form, send an e-mail to City secretary Graham Hill via graham@ wcfc.wanadoo.co.uk or call the club on 01905-23003.