Callum targets making major impact after signing new two-year deal

Callum Ainley has told the club’s official website that he is ‘happy that his contract situation has been sorted’ and he can concentrate on becoming a regular in David Artell’s starting XI.

The talented youngster, 23, has signed a new two-year deal with the club and he is determined to make up for lost time after his season was interrupted by injury. Ainley suffered a grade 3 tear of the hamstring back in November and he had to work exceedingly hard to get back before the end of the season.

Despite the seriousness of the injury, Ainley still managed to make 28 appearances and he scored the winner at Bristol Rovers in our last away match of the season.

Ainley is now determined to have more of an impact as a first-team player this season. He told us: “I am happy to have everything finally sorted. It has been a long time since the last game but these things do take time with the negotiations and the small print but it is all sorted now.

“I spoke to the gaffer and we are on the same page about making me an important player for the team. I want to play week in week out and not be the player I’ve been over the last couple of seasons where I play a few games and then I am out of the team.

“I want to be playing every week and scoring goals for the team.

“I thought I started the season well and then suffered the injury and it was hard to get back. When I did I really wanted the season to carry on. Now it is a fresh start and I have two years to prove myself.

“I can’t wait to get back and playing games. Every footballer will tell you that you don’t want to be running in pre-season, you prefer to be playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday and winning football matches.

He added: “Hopefully I can have a good pre-season and when the first game comes around I want to be one of the first names on the team-sheet.”