SAM Collier fears that the he will not been able to kick a ball in anger this season.

The Shrivenham player-manager had an operation to remove a pin and cartilage from his knee at the end of last month.

And with preparations for the new campaign underway at Barrington Park, Collier admits that he may miss the entire Hellenic League season.

“At the moment I don’t know if I’m going to be fit at all this season,” the Shrivvy boss said. “I hope am I.

“But I’ve spent the last four weeks sitting at home, not even being able to go to work - it’s a bit of nightmare.”

But while Collier has been on the sidelines this summer, he says that he has been pleased with how his squad is taking shape.

With two pre-season friendlies out of the way, a 4-2 defeat to Swindon Town youth and a 1-0 reverse to his father Mark’s side Chippenham Town on Tuesday night, Collier feels that his side is going in the right direction.

The Barrington Park outfit have drafted in four new faces in Adam Corcoran, Sam Packer, Mani Randhawa and John Rees.

“We have had five training sessions and two friendlies so far and I’m relatively happy with how it is all going,” Collier said.

“I felt that we did quite well against Chippenham and it is more like the test that we will face in the league as they were more direct than Swindon were.

“The new boys have a settled in well and they are all good mates with the rest of the squad.

“This season we have a relatively young squad with only one player over the age of 27.”

And Collier will get the chance to see his side back in action this morning when they entertain Southbrook.