GOALKEEPER James Bittner is looking to put an injury-ravaged season behind him after shoulder surgery last week.

Bittner, 23, left Exeter City by mutual consent after the Grecians told him he had no future at the club a week after he injured his shoulder.

The former Devizes Town and Chippenham Town shot stopper had been suffering from a bone tumour, a growth of bone which stems off a joint.

After diagnosis he attended the Nuffield Hospital in Exeter on Wednesday April 13 to have the surgery, paid for by Exeter City.

Bittner said: "It was causing a lot of pain and it's dragged on and on until last month I found out what it was.

"It's meant I have not played since last year. I played two trial games for Boston but I had this injury at the time and in the second game I had too much pain to continue.

"With the chance to get into a league club gone it was a double blow.

"Fortunately it's not a long recovery and in three weeks I will be almost fully fit again.

"I have had some offers from goalkeeping coaches and personal trainers to help me get fit and sharp for the preseason.

"What is good is that I can start talking to clubs again saying, 'I will be available for pre-season. Are you interested?'"

Bittner said he is hoping to hear from some clubs, league and non-league, this week but refused to reveal who.

"It's a bit of a yo-yo situation because club's don't know if they are going to be promoted or relegated so don't know their budgets," he said.

Bittner said he has been pleased with his shoulder's recovery so far but that the last five months have been a time to forget.

"I am very pleased with the surgery. It's early days but it's recovering well.

"To go through an injury is bad but then to look for a new club as well is awful.

"I've also watched to lads go to Old Trafford and play in the FA Cup. I want to leave these five months in the past."

Bittner added his time out has made him even hungrier for football.

"I have played every game for the last three seasons. At Chippenham and Exeter I was playing every game but to have a break is not always a bad thing."