Jewell speaks ahead of season opener

Last updated : 05 August 2004 By Paul Farrington

"Pre-season matches are obviously necessary but it is nice to get them out of the way so that we can now focus on the real thing. Nottingham Forest on August 7th has been fixed in our minds for some time and now we are able to concentrate totally on that match as the 'shadow boxing' is over.

"Apart from the serious injury to Jason Jarrett, we've been quite lucky through pre-season and almost everyone has got plenty of minutes under their belt. The majority of our squad are fit and raring to go and I've got plenty of competition for places, apart from at centre half. However, there's a chance we might get something sorted in the next 24 hours but I don't want to say any more than that.

"I look at our squad now and feel we are far stronger than last year. Although we have lost some players we would like to have kept, we have also managed to get players here who we are delighted to have brought in.

"We'll focus on set pieces and patterns of play this week having got our fitness levels up to a very high standard and the attitude of the squad has been excellent from the moment they came back on July 1st. That's very pleasing, and even those that haven't featured in the first team friendlies have hidden their disappointment well and given their all in training.

"I'm happy to admit that I've now settled on the side I'll start with on Saturday barring illness or injury, but what is pleasing is that I know that even if someone is ruled out, we have players who can come in to replace them and not weaken our side at all.

"All in all I'm really pleased with where we are at the present time and like everyone else here, I can't wait for Saturday to come round so we can finally kick off the season proper for real."