Josh Windass is looking forward to a bright future at Stanley after signing a new two year contract with the club.
The 20-year-old made his breakthrough into James Beattie's side towards the end of the season and is delighted to have been given the chance to stay.
“The gaffer's been massive in my decision,” explained the former Huddersfield youngster. “He had a lot of faith in me, even when I wasn't playing last year and he was pulling me in and telling me to keep working hard. At the beginning of last season he pulled me in and told me I wasn't working as hard as he thought I could. That was a reality check for me because I thought I was working hard. Obviously I wasn't! From there I just kicked on.
“After that I was better in training, working my hardest every day and then I got my chance and I took it.
“I'm looking forward to the season. We need some new signings as there aren't that many players in the squad at the moment as people like Danny Webber have left and Kayode (Odejayi) doesn't look like he's coming back. I'm looking forward to seeing new faces.”
Windass will return with the rest of the squad in early July to begin preparations for the new season and it's a far cry from when he arrived at the Store First Stadium on trial this time last year.
“There's been no pressure this summer, I've just been chilling, but last summer I knew that I needed to do well when I went in on trial,” he said. “It's been a relief to be able to chill out and hopefully I'll be able to play better because I won't have to worry about anything.
“I feel I'm a ten times better player than I was when I came in. I'm more physical and I've learnt so much more. I feel like I can take that into the new season and hopefully push the club forward better than last season.”
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