Jamille Matt says he can’t wait for the start of the new season after he bagged a goal in the 2-1 victory over Northwich Victoria on Thursday evening.
Every player that Graham Alexander had at his disposal got 45 minutes during the game and the powerful striker came on in the second half and scored the second goal in Fleetwood’s first pre-season match after Jon Parkin had given Town the lead in the first half at Valley Road.
The 22-year-old striker revealed he was glad to get the pre-season games up and running and says the game benefitted the team as they put what they have done in training to good use.
“It is always great to get the pre-season games up and going. Matt said, “It is better than doing a bit of running I think, we were running with a purpose today. It was good to get some minutes under the belt and I think the lads tried to move the ball today and it was a good little work out for us.
“It is always pleasing to get on the score sheet in any game and it was the same today. I tried to come on and put myself about and tried to open my legs a bit and try use the work we have done in pre-season to good use.”
The Fleetwood squad have completed their first full week of pre-season training and Matt says although it has been a tough first week, he believes the team has met the challenges head on and says Fleetwood’s new recruits have settled into the team quickly – a factor that the striker insists will benefit the team when they begin their second Football League campaign next month.
“It has been all right, it has been tough, I would be lying if I said it wasn’t tough but you come in expecting it to be tough but to be fair to the lads have come in and they put the graft in and hopefully they will get their rewards.
“I came in last year and all the lads made me feel welcome so I already felt settled from last season. The new lads have come in and all of us are trying to make them feel welcome because the more welcome you feel, the more settled the team is and the better you play. I think that is what we have tried to do. There isn’t a bad egg in the bunch and we are all getting along.”
The next part of Fleetwood’s pre-season plans will see the squad fly out to Austria on 6 July for a week long training camp where they will play two games, one against Bad Ischi and the other against Cypriot champions APOEL Nicosia, who played in the Champions League two seasons ago.
“I have heard good and bad stories (about the trip to Austria and the hard work) so I think I will have to make mind up for myself, I am just looking forward to it madly enough. I am just looking forward to getting out there and having a change of surroundings. The lads will pull each other through and hopefully we will come back stronger.”
With only a month to go until the season gets underway, Matt says he is hoping to get a good pre-season under his belt as he looks to fire the team to promotion this time around.
“I am looking forward to the start of the season, and I looking forward to trying to get a good pre-season under my belt and pushing on for a first full season in the Football League and help try and get the team where we want to be and that’s in the top three places and getting promotion.”