Tough and Testing

Ryan Williamson revealed that pre season training had been as tough as he had expected.

He told the website that it had been enjoyable as well:-

"Along with the running that we have done we have been doing a lot of high intensity small set games. We are playing and it is competitive. You don't just want to be doing loads and loads of runs running around tracks.

"It has been tough as he had expected but obviously it will stand us in good stead for the competitive matches when they come around."

The 19 year old who missed out for three months of last season with a knee injury said that it had not caused him any problems through the intensity of pre season.

"When I first started back training and playing I had a lot of stiffness but now once I am playing and running about, it honestly feels perfectly fine. That is a good thing. I didn't want to be coming back and constantly worrying about it happening again and pulling out of training but it has been fine. I have just kept down my head and tried to get get back to where I was before I picked up my injury.

"There has been an appetite to come back and make a good impression on the new manager. I wanted to make sure that I came back fit. I did a lot of work over the summer to make sure I that I was flying when I came back and my fitness levels were back to where they should be. I have been feeling good and so looking forward to the games now."

With Allan Johnston signing three new defenders Ryan is looking forward to being part of a new look defence.

"The boys have settled in really well and you can tell that they are quality players and that they have been playing in higher leagues than League One so they will bring good experience and the quality that they have got will hopefully show in this league. I am looking forward to seeing them in a game and to playing alongside them.

"With so many boys going at the end of last season and just a few of us being left to come back to see the new faces coming in. That is just part of football, you just have to get on with it and make sure the new boys are made to feel welcome, the team bonds and we make sure that we are all together."

Ryan needed no prompting in pointing out just how massive a year it is going to be for the club:-

"We all need to work as hard as we can to get the club back to where it should be. It has been a while since we have had a game so everyone is buzzing just to get game time again. As good as training is, you want to be playing games. You want that competitiveness and play as often as possible. Everyone is wanting to make a good impression because it will be the first time that the new manager has actually seen us playing."