Opportunity is knocking for Danny Rowe this season after Town fans have seen very little of him since his move from Macclesfield over two and a half years ago.
This time last year he was one of the players sidelined by injury but on the eve of the new campaign he is fully fit and raring to go at Burton tomorrow as the club takes on its first third-tier challenge since 1957.
Rowe, 27, has only started three Town fixtures in all competitions — and come off the bench in eight others — so he is looking to make up for lost ground and play a leading role in what he is confident can be a successful season.
He said: "Pre-season has gone well for me. It’s great to be fit, training properly and getting games.
"An injury-free pre-season is a big thing for me after the way things went last year. I’ve built up a nice bit of fitness and I’m really looking forward to the season getting under way.
"Obviously I haven’t played many games here. I’ve not had the game time, which has been really disappointing for me, but I can only look forward and hope that my time has finally come.”
The fact that so many Town players — among them Teddy Bishop, Jack Lankester, Gwion Edwards, Jon Nolan and Jordan Roberts — are currently out of contention through injury opens the door to the first team for a number of others, with Rowe clearly in manager Paul Lambert’s plans for a role against Nigel Clough’s side.
He added: "The injured players are going to be a big miss for the team but we have to move on and whoever gets a chance has to make sure they take it.
"Everyone wants to play and wants to do well for the team, and I’m up there as well.
"I only worry about what I can do to improve myself and give myself the best possible chance of getting into the team. That’s all I’ve done since we reported back for pre-season.”
Asked about his best position, Rowe continued: "I’d say either on the right wing or behind the striker, where I had a lot of success last season when I was on loan at Lincoln. Playing wide suits me as well, so I’ll play anywhere. As long as I’m playing I’m happy.
"I know that in my position I’ve got to add things to the team, like goals, assists and helping to create scoring chances. That’s what I am looking forward to doing.”
Rowe’s crossing ability and eye for a pass in the danger zone could see him provide openings for the main strikers, James Norwood and Kayden Jackson, who have both been finding the net regularly in pre-season.
"We’ve got some really solid attackers available to us and I believe there are goals in the team from other areas too,” said Rowe, who also lists Stockport and Barrow among his previous clubs. "It’s a real positive as we go forward looking to win promotion.
"I’ve played there before and so have some of the lads, and I think all the players know what to expect. I believe it comes down to us, though, and if we play the right way and we do what we’ve been working on throughout pre-season I’m sure things will go our way.
"I’m really confident we can be up there come the end of the season. We’ve been working hard all pre-season and if we apply ourselves correctly I can see it working out fine. We know our aim.
"A lot of the lads here are used to playing in the Championship, while others have been successful at the lower level. We all know where we want to be and that’s all we are focused on.”