AFTER signing a new deal with Burton Albion, defender Damien McCrory says the Brewers can bounce back with promotion to the Championship next season.
Albion’s longest-serving player said: “We were in League One a couple of seasons ago and were highly competitive then and if you look at it next season I would imagine it will be even more competitive by the teams who are in there who are fighting to get up and make the step up to the Championship.
"There is a massive challenge ahead but I’m definitely up for the challenge as is everyone else and I know the gaffer especially is so hopefully we can do what Rotherham have just done and bounce straight back up.”
Nigel Clough says that he sees McCrory as being a mainstay of the team in League One next season and the player wants to be part of a solid Albion defence.
He said: “Hopefully next season we can get a lot more clean sheets, build from the back and see how it goes from there.”
McCrory also hopes to be injury-free after a stop-start 2017/18 season.
He said: “I never really got a full run of games due to picking up injuries, that’s the main thing I want to concentrate on – avoiding niggly injuries and any at all if possible and playing consistently week-in, week-out. And hopefully we will be towards the top of league One.
“That was a massive step back but I had a couple of weeks off after the season ended and totally rested it an then got back into the gym, and started doing the weights and strengthening it back up. It’s getting back to normal now and there’s not a lot of pain in it. Another week or so and it will be just fine.
“I want to get a good pre-season into me now. No-one wants to miss that as you are taking a backwards step. It’s vitally important to get a good pre-season under your belt.”