Stephen Jordan says he is going to fight for a Fleetwood Town shirt after the left-back became Graham Alexander’s eight summer signing.
The 31-year-old former Manchester City and Burnley defender has been training with the Town squad during their week long training camp in Austria but Jordan is rested tonight in their friendly match against German third division side SV Wacker Burghausen.
Jordan started his career at boyhood club Manchester City before playing in the same Burnley team as Graham Alexander that played in the Premier League.
Jordan has also gone on to play for Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and most recently lined up for Dunfermline Athletic last season to bring with him a wealth of experience ahead of Fleetwood’s second season in the Football League.
“That’s one thing I do bring (experience), I have played at all different levels and I hope to bring that to the team as well as anything else I can bring.” Jordan said.
“I am obviously left-sided so hopefully it will bring some balance to the team on the left side, but there is some good players in the squad so it is a case of me fighting for my place to make sure I get a shirt.”
Jordan has settled into life quickly with his new team-mates and hasn’t been short of the occasional prank since linking up with the club.
“There is a good bunch of lads here. They have made it easy for me to settle in, they have played a few pranks, but I have settled in really well.”
Jordan, like the rest of Alexander’s squad, has been put through his paces during his time in Obertraun, but Jordan believes both he and Fleetwood will benefit from the intense pre-season schedule.
“I think I am as fit as I have ever been in my life. Seven o’clock runs, training twice a day but it has been enjoyable. It is not like the old school where you just run for 50 miles and it has been a lot of fun and I think the lads are looking really fit.”
The left-back is also looking forward to playing back in England after a spell in Scotland and says this seasons League Two is going to be tougher than ever before, but insists Fleetwood have what it takes to push for promotion this season.
“Every year the leagues get stronger and stronger and I think we are one of the favourites, one of the fancied teams for next season, but there are a lot of strong teams in this division so we are going to have to work hard, train well and push for promotion next season.”
Jordan’s arrival adds to the competition for places at the left-back position, but all across the team, Fleetwood’s latest signing believes everybody is under pressure to keep a place in the first team – a factor that Jordan believes will only benefit the team over the course of the long season.
“That’s always good (competition for places), if you look around the squad there is almost competition for every place and every position, which is brilliant for the squad because it means you can’t rest on your laurels and it makes the team stronger so it can only be a good thing.
“I think players wise, we have got as good as players as anybody in the league, and if we are fit and if not fitter than everybody else in the league, then there will be no stopping us.”