Fleetwood Town

Steven Schumacher says there will be no split loyalties when he and Fleetwood welcome his old club Bury to Highbury tomorrow afternoon.

The 29-year-old joined Town in the summer from Bury after he made over 100 appearances for the Shakers during a three-year spell, including last season where he played 44 games in all competitions and scored 10 goals, but even he could not prevent Kevin Blackwell's side, who were financially stricken at the time, being relegated to Sky Bet League 2.

Fleetwood will go in search of back-to-back home wins after their 4-1 victory over Torquay United last weekend and victory would also give Alexander’s side their third successive win in all competitions.

Bury currently 14th after their first six games back in the fourth tier and have completely over hauled their squad following relegation from League 1 last season.

Speaking to the Cod Army Player Schumacher said” “I’m looking forward to it. It should be a good day, it’s going to be a tough game, but we are going into the game with a little bit of confidence after two good performances.

‘There aren’t a lot of players there now that were there from my time. Bury had a massive clear out over the summer, they had new owners and had a new structure so it there is going to be a lot of new faces that I won’t recognise, but I am looking forward to seeing some of the staff members that are coming back.

“I have still got a lot of friends there behind the scenes, it is a great little club and I am glad they have made a good start so far in League 2

“I will probably go as far as to say it was the happiest time of my career so far especially during that promotion year when we had a great side and a great group of lads. 

“It was a spell in my career that I really enjoyed, but it was time to move on in the summer and I am looking forward to this new challenge with Fleetwood.”

Last season, Town only won seven of their 23 home games in their first season of League football and whilst they have won two of their three homes games already this season, Schumacher insists if Fleetwood are to be successful this season, Highbury has got to be turned into a fortress. 

“I think that (good home form) will be a big factor, if we want to be successful this season, it will be our home form that is vital. We don’t want it to be an easy place for other teams to come and play against us. 

“We played really well in the first game against Dagenham, but we didn’t quite match the same standards against Burton. I thought Saturday we were back to our best and it was a pretty convincing win.”

The midfielder nearly scored his first goal in the red and white of Fleetwood after he crashed the post in the first half of the 4-1 victory over Torquay and Schumacher believes he is going to have to bide his time in search for his first goal, but insists it will come if he continues to hit them as sweet as that effort.

“I thought when I hit it from the edge of the box that it was in all the way, but it is one of them things where I am going to have to bide my time. I am not getting many opportunities to score at the minute with the role I am playing, but if I hit a few more like that then they will start going in.”

After struggling with injury during pre-season, Schumacher, despite making six appearances in all competitions since his move, is still yet to be 100 per cent fit for Town and although he is still recovering, Schumacher is enjoying his challenge on the Fylde Coast and says the he will only get better as the season progresses.

“It (his fitness) is getting there. I thought Saturday was the best I have felt fitness wise. I understand it is going to take me a little bit of time considering the summer that I had, but I am getting there, it’s a long season and if we can start ok and get better throughout it, I will be ok.

“I am really enjoying this challenge with Fleetwood; I feel that the squad that we have got and the spirit that we have got, it reminds me of when I first went Bury. We all know what the goal is and at the moment it is going all right, we have had a good start and hopefully we can continue it on Saturday.”