McAlister homes in on key week for Blackpool

Blackpool midfielder Jim McAlister heads to his native Scotland with his Blackpool team-mates this week convinced they can mount a League Two title challenge.
Jim McAlisterJim McAlister
Jim McAlister

The 30-year-old ventured south of the border for the first time in his career last summer and made 46 Pool appearances last season.

And he heads back north for this week’s training camp at St Andrews after new manager Gary Bowyer made a positive first impression

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McAlister told the club’s website:“I’ve been very impressed with the manager.

“We had a good meeting just outlining how he is going to work and what he expects.

“There is a good core of boys still here from last year, so hopefully we can start pulling the club in the right direction.

“You don’t want relegation on your CV and unfortunately that happened to the nucleus of boys from last year, so you are hoping there is a kind of rebound effect.

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“There was never doubt in the ability that was in the squad last year.

“ It was maybe just a few other things that came with it, so hopefully we have got a good enough squad to challenge.

McAlister says the new signings have settled in well and can gel further with the squad during their week in north-east Scotland.

He has been back in his homeland over the close-season and added: “It was a good thing getting back up to Scotland. You can switch off from football completely and clear your head.

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“Some of the new boys already knew some of the boys in the dressing room, so that always helps settle any nerves.

“It is like the first day at school when you come into a new club but they have come in and mixed really well.”

Two of those new signings are strikers Jamille Matt and Kyle Vassell, and Pool frontman Mark Cullen says he is relishing the competition.

Now fully fit after missing the end of last season with a torn hamstring, Cullen said of the competition up front: “It is healthy. That is what you have in most squads and nobody should be guaranteed a space. It just makes you work a bit harder.

League Two will be similiar to League One but there are a lot of physical teams, a lot of big lads who might play direct football. We have to be ready and willing to fight.”