Matty Waters is set for a further spell on the sidelines as he continues to recover from a stress fracture to his shin.

The 20-year-old penned a two-year-deal with the Blues last summer, following a breakthrough season with the club’s academy, but struggled for consistency during last season which was eventually curtailed through injury, which he first felt in the cross-border derby defeat at Wrexham.

Waters had hoped to return to pre-season to try and cement his spot as Chester’s first-choice left-back under new management duo Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson as he looks to kickstart his career, which he admits has stalled since first breaking into the first-team.

However, results of a scan have not delivered the result Waters hoped for, and he now heads into the new season under a fitness cloud.

“I first felt it against Wrexham and then it became pretty clear it wasn’t right and it ended my season,” he said.

“It’s a stress fracture to the shin bone. It’s just been a case of wait and see but I’d hoped it wouldn’t prevent me from taking part in pre-season.

“There’s no hiding from the fact I’ve not kicked on as I’d have liked.

“I had a really good first year, but then last year for various reasons things didn’t go well.

“I was played out of position for most of the season. Maybe the goal at Gateshead gave people the wrong impression that I should have been playing as an attacking player or in the hole behind the forwards.

“I want to stake a claim as left full-back. That’s where I’ve played the majority of my career so far, through youth football, from when I was at Stoke right up to Chester.

“I think it’s my best position and I’m ready to show the new managers what I’m capable of.”

Waters, along with Jordan Archer, Ross Hannah, Craig Mahon and Kingsley James, remains on a full-time contract with the club, despite Morley and Johnson switching to a part-time model since they arrived last month.

The switch to a part-time model, with training taking place in the evenings, does not trouble Waters, who says he will remain committed to the full-time contract he penned with Chester and utilise his time in the days, training with the youth team and improving his strength and fitness.

“I’m still young and I still want to be developing as much as possible,” he explained.

“I’m hungry to succeed and I want that to be with Chester. The new set-up is going to be different but at the end of the day, I am on a full-time contract here, so I will be putting in full-time effort.

“I’m looking to train with the youth lads in the day, more gym sessions. I’ll do whatever I can to establish myself and I just want as much football as possible.”

Waters was elated when hearing the news of Stuart Murphy’s £1million commitment to the club and believes it could signal the start of an exciting period for everyone connected with Chester.

“It’s an incredible gesture and I’m sure I speak for everyone connected with the football club when I say how grateful everyone is,” he said.

“It’s exciting and the money gives the club the chance to really move forward both on and off the pitch.”