Fleetwood Town’s second season as a Football League club has begun to take shape with a Capital One Cup draw which produced an away tie at League One Notts County in the week beginning 5th August.
The Meadow Lane tie will be an early opportunity for midfielder Jeff Hughes to return to the club which he left for Town as part of Graham Alexander’s summer recruitment. Hughes scored 24 goals in 99 appearances during his two years at Meadow Lane:
‘It will be nice to go back and meet a few friends from my time there. I gave everything at County, always trying my best but now it’s time to move on with Fleetwood.’
Despite his knowledge of the club and players, Hughes isn’t expecting Alexander to need answers to too many questions:
‘Clubs in the modern game are so well-briefed and the management will have done their homework. Also, we’ll concentrate on our own game plan. However, if there’s anything the gaffer needs to know I’ll do my best!’
The Northern Ireland international was delighted to get the Fleetwood move sorted in good time:
‘It’s a move that I’m really looking forward to. I’m an ambitious person and this is a club that’s definitely moving forward. I’ve played against Graham Alexander and I know that his approach will be very professional. I’ve also heard that there is a close-knit community in Fleetwood who are proud of their team’s progress in the last few years. I’ve been hoping to get a club further north. My wife has family in the north and it will be nice for her to see more of them. If the wife and kids are happy it makes everything that much easier.’
The 28 year-old will meet up with his new team mates on Friday for a pre-season campaign beginning with fitness tests:
‘I managed to get away for a break with the family which was good. I’m not one of those who puts a lot of weight on when not exercising but will need to get my fitness back again and pre-season is something that we all have to go through. Then it’s down to getting some momentum going and making ourselves hard to beat.’