Nathan Rooney back in the AFC Telford fold
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson is delighted that midfielder Nathan Rooney has accepted the challenge to fight his way into his plans for next season.
And he believes that the former Wolves reserve team captain can play a significant part in the forthcoming Conference North promotion push provided he can rediscover his best form.
Watson has brought in 14 new signings since arriving at the New Bucks Head in May, in a bid to revitalise the squad following last season's abject campaign in the Conference National.
He made it clear that players from last season's squad who are out of contract would be welcome to come back in pre-season to try to earn a new deal.
And Rooney was among a small cluster of familiar faces joining a largely new-look team for the first day of pre-season training at Wrekin College.
The 21-year-old former Thomas Telford School pupil was a regular starter for the Bucks last season, making 36 appearances and scoring five goals.
Like many in the team last term he struggled to find consistent form but Watson will be aiming to help the player realise his potential in the coming weeks.
He said: "Nathan Rooney took me up on my offer to come and do pre-season, which is great.
"There is definitely a good player in there. The important thing is bringing it out, but it is going to be a two way thing.
"We have got to try to help him, but he has also got to try to help himself. If we can get him back and performing at the level he has done in the past then we might have a player on our hands.
"But a lot will be dictated by what happens in these sessions."
Other familiar faces at training included youngsters Jake Bennett, Tom Bradley and James O'Neill. All three made the step up to the first team towards the end of last season.
Watson hopes to supplement his small squad with a couple of the club's promising home-grown youngsters should they impress in pre-season.
