Skipper Rory McArdle cannot wait to get started at Scunthorpe and he is still on a high after being named the club captain.
The experienced centre-back spoke to iFollow Iron ahead of the first game against AFC Wimbledon after getting through a tough pre-season.
The 30-year-old will lead United out for the game with the Wombles, but knows how tough a challenge it will be.
ON PRE-SEASON…
RM: Pre-season is pre-season, it is always tough. You have days where you sort of come in and think that you’re not going to get through today’s sessions, but it’s part and parcel of it, it’s a mental toughness as well as physical. I’m sure everyone is glad it’s all done now and all the hard miles that have been done will stand us in good stead from now on until the end of the season.
ON HIS EXCITEMENT FOR THE NEW SEASON…
RM: It has come around quite quick really. When you first come back in pre-season, it seems a hell of a long way away, but it’s here now and everybody is looking forward to it.
"When you first come back in pre-season, it seems a hell of a long way away, but it’s here now and everybody is looking forward to it."
ON THE AFC WIMBLEDON MATCH…
RM: They did well last year if you look at far they have come in recent seasons. I’m sure they will try and build on that and the success they had last year. I think with it being the opening day, no matter who it is, it’s always going to be a tough game. Everyone is going to try and put a marker down at the start of the season as fast as possible and I’m they won’t be any different.
ON A BUSY SCHEDULE…
RM: I think everybody knows – that have played in the Championship, League One and League Two – that there are a lot of league games and the cup matches start straight away. If you have a bit of a cup run, the Saturdays and Tuesdays become quite a common thing. Everybody is used to it, it’s not something that has all of a sudden come in. It is just important that when the Saturdays and Tuesdays start everybody looks after themselves.
ON BEING NAMED THE CAPTAIN…
RM: It has been a bit strange. I have had a few texts from friends, family, and players that I have played with in the past, which is nice, but obviously it is something that I am proud of. It is not something that I am going to dwell on, nothing is really going to change – everything will be the same as it has been since I came into the club.
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