Jamie McGuire is determined not to let last season’s facial injury suffered in the last away game at Cambridge United scupper his preparation ahead of Town’s action-packed pre-season schedule.
By Liz OwenJamie McGuire is determined not to let last season’s facial injury suffered in the last away game at Cambridge United scupper his preparation ahead of Town’s action-packed pre-season schedule.
“It’s not too bad, I’ve just had to let it heal,” he said. “It’s been a bit of a pain really – I’ve only had about four days away on holiday, the rest has just been basically resting it. I’ve got the fourth of July before we go back to pre-season just to get the all clear on it; hopefully it’s okay, there’s a bit of nerve damage still but I’m getting there.
“I’ve spoken to SOS (physio Ian Liversedge), I’ve been on a few runs, but nothing crazy because I need a good rest anyway because I had a long season. It blows up a little bit and a little bit of swelling comes up so I’ve got to be careful, and then when the matches start kicking off I might have to wear a mask on my jaw. I’m going to see how it goes and see what the hospital says.”
McGuire, however, does not expect his active style of play to change despite the risk of causing further damage: “It’s my game, isn’t it? I’ve just got to get that mentality out of my head, when it does come to the first game [and I] go for my first header, but if I take a knock on my face again I don’t know what’s going to happen – especially when I’ve got a metal plate in.
“The bone’s still healing, but as soon as it comes to the first game I should be fine. You know me, I’m all action; I put my head in where it hurts and more!”
Town’s pre-season fixture against Tranmere Rovers will provide a familiar opposition for McGuire in more ways than one. “It’s basically where I started my career, the YTS [Youth Team Squad],” he said. “My best mate’s just signed there, central midfielder Danny Harrison, so it’ll be good to play against him. I know a few of the boys anyway who live round ours: Andy Robinson, young lad Max Power. It’ll be good to play them, good to see some old faces and I’m looking forward to it.”
The latest acquisitions to the Town squad have also impressed McGuire, who feels that the current side will do their utmost to help any new faces settle in. “We’ve made some quality signings inlcuding Premiership experience and goalscorers as well,” he said. “We’re one of the favourites to win the league already but we’ve got a lot of hard work in pre-season before everyone gels.
“We’ve got the basics of the squad already. Lads have moved on, which is sad to see, but it’s the way life goes now in football. I’m looking forward to meeting the lads on Wednesday, ready to kick on.
“Damien Johnson is very experienced, he’s just won the play-offs with Huddersfield. I played against him before at Tranmere when he was with for Blackburn; he must have been coming back from injury playing a reserve team game. You can see his quality, he’s a good player. He’s going to bring great experience and it’ll be good to learn off him because he’s been there, done it. I’m looking forward to playing with him.
“I’ve played against Gilly [Steven Gillespie] before – I don’t really know him well, but I’ll get to know him; [that’s] the kind of person I am, I get to know the lads straight away. There’s a good Scouse contingency, there’s a good base to start with.
“Gilly knows a few of the lads already; big Jon Parkin, I believe he’s a bit of a character as well. I think all the lads will settle in with the lads who are already here – that’s the kind of lads we are, we make everyone welcome. We’ll all get on fine.”
And McGuire believes a home Capital One Cup tie against double European Cup winners Nottingham Forest and an opening day fixture versus Torquay United at Highbury are the perfect two games to introduce Town into League football. “You can’t get a better start,” he said, “You want your big teams, like Forests and to get them at home, well it’s good for the town, we’ll sell out again.
“Then Torquay at home, [who] just got beaten at the play-off semi-finals; they’re going big again and they’ve signed some decent players. It’s a good start for us, we’ve just got to hit the ground running and see where it takes us.”
Supporters are reminded tickets are now on sale for the opening npower League 2 games, the Capital One Cup tie against Nottingham Forest and pre-season friendlies. The ticket office is open 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday. Ticket prices can be found HERE.
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