David McDermott will fight for future

Kidderminster Harriers winger David McDermott has pledged to fight for his future as a full-time footballer and come back for pre-season firing on all cylinders.

The 22-year-old is clinging to the hope of a future at Aggborough after being invited back for the start of training on July 5, although there is no guarantee of a contract.

McDermott has had little chance to prove himself to manager Steve Burr, who arrived in January, after a horror catalogue of injury and illness that decimated his season.

First the luckless wide man picked up an injury against Wrexham in late November, before contracting ulcers in his stomach and colon the following month that saw him hospitalised twice.

By the time McDermott rejoined the squad Burr had taken charge from Mark Yates, sending him out on loan to part-timers Halesowen who have again expressed an interest in bringing him to the Grove permanently.

The winger built up his fitness, returned to Aggborough and was given the chance to impress on as a sub against Barrow in the last month of the season, only to be clattered by a horror challenge that ended his campaign.

Now McDermott faces an uncertain summer but will not throw the towel in on his career.

He said: "It's frustrating for me, but at the same time I can see where the gaffer is coming from because he hasn't seen enough of me. But because I have worked so hard to get back, he's given me the chance to prove my fitness.

"I literally haven't stopped since the end of the season, trying to get back the fitness that I lost, so I know for a fact I will go into pre-season flying.

"I have been in the gym probably nine times a week, working with weights in the lower half of my body as well, so my legs are pretty much bulked up to where they were. That has helped with running, the last time I ran four-and-a-half miles I did it in 28 minutes.

"I am pretty confident that, if I do come back to Kidderminster, I am capable of doing enough to be offered something."