Paul McCone back training at AFC Telford

The former Hednesford and Stourbridge centre-back's welcome appearance was the highlight of the first session of pre-season.

Manager Rob Smith put the Bucks through their paces last night at Wrekin College. McCone hasn't played since rupturing his cruciate ligament last November.

But he is on the way to recovery and is taking part in a modified pre-season, with a view to being available in the first two months of the season.

Smith said: "The bonus of the night was Paul McCone joining in. He's still some way off, but he looks really good and that was the most pleasing thing.

"He does what he can, but as soon as he feels his knee he's under orders to stop. He's been told he can't think about playing football until September at the earliest.

"So he'll do things in his own time but he was in tremendous shape, and, as soon as he gets the go-ahead, he'll be in contention."

"His work (McCone is a builder) doesn't help because he's on his knee all the time – it's actually a hindrance because he doesn't get chance to rest, but the early signs are very good."

Smith believes McCone could have a huge impact on his new-look side, continuing: "He just leads by example by the way he is as a person and as a player.

"Sadly we only saw glimpses of it last season and him and Ben Bailey were a very good partnership at Hednesford – as good as I've seen."

Bailey, Dan Preston, James Montgomery, Michael Monaghan and Josh Wilson are still away so missed the first session.

But the other six new signings attended, supplemented by three young un-named trialists.

Smith added: "It was a bit of 'getting to know you' but it was a really good first session. Based on Tuesday night, it won't be long until they gel as a group."

Telford's squad are set for more running tonight, before hill sessions up the Wrekin on Saturday and Tuesday.

Smith said: "We didn't do any ball-work, but what caught my eye was that they have come back in good nick. You can clearly see a lot of them have done stuff over the summer.

"It will be a case of more of the same tonight and then up the hills on Saturday and Tuesday.

"But, as I told the players, it's only four really hard sessions then it's ball-work, so it's a short pre-season."