Crewe Alexandra's latest summer signing Mat Mitchel-King has told the club's official web-site that he has thoroughly enjoyed his first week of training with his new club - but he has found it tough going under strict task-master Gudjon Thordarson!

Mitchel-King is delighted to have another chance at trying to make the grade in the Football League after being released by his local club Cambridge United as a teenager.

Mitchel-King has had to resurrect his career in the non-league and a successful four years at Histon alerted Crewe and a few other league clubs to his potential. He agreed a two-year deal with the Railwaymen on Monday after becoming a free agent in the summer.

The versatile central defender can also operate in central midfield and has also shown leadership qualities as the previous captain at Histon. Now he is aiming to break into Gudjon Thordarson's first-team and show that he is more than capable of making that step up into the professional game.

Mat told crewealex.net: "It is a dream come true to be back in the league again. When I was released by Cambridge as a 14-year-old you think then that you are never going to make it. I've got there through hard work and dedication and now I have got an opportunity to shine for Crewe.

"I have come here to do my best for Crewe Alexandra. My first objective is to get fit, then to get in the side on a regular basis and then look to get promotion.

"People say that there is not a lot of difference between the Conference and League Two. I've never played in the league so I'm not sure. I would imagine the top ten teams in League Two will be strong and I'm sure there will be a few clubs in the Conference who could hold their own at this level too.

"I know about Burton, Torquay, Aldershot and Dagenham from my days in the non-league scene and they will be tough teams, but I'm confident that Crewe have enough ability here to be pushing for promotion."

So how has Mat enjoyed his first week in full pre-season training at a professional level?

"It is something I'm not used too because at Histon we were training two or three times a week. This week at Crewe we have had two sessions in a day!"

"It has been tough going and the legs are feeling it a bit. I will be behind some of the other lads because of that but with two weeks of hard graft behind me I will on an equal footing. I've never been afraid of some hard work and I'm enjoying it.

"The lads have been first class. They have all made me feel so welcome and all the staff have been really helpful and made me settle in pretty quickly. I'm really looking forward to the challenge and a successful season."