Burton Albion midfielder Matty Lund is looking forward to pulling on a Brewers shirt for the first time as the season draws nearer.
The former Rochdale man joined Albion on a free transfer earlier this summer, signing a two-year deal at the Pirelli Stadium after his contract expired at League One Dale.
Lund, Albion's first signing of a so-far busy summer, put pen to paper on May 19, only 12 days after the Championship season ended - just shy of six weeks before he could eventually link up with his new teammates at the end of June.
The Northern Ireland international has been making the most of the time since pre-season began. But he is now looking forward to pulling on the yellow and black of the Brewers for the first time in a match scenario.
Albion's pre-season preparations will give him plenty of time to do just that, with 10 clashes between now and the opening day of the Championship season, at home to Cardiff City.
Northern Premier League Division One South side Kidsgrove Athletic is where it will all kick off, with the Brewers heading to the Novus Stadium on Wednesday (7.30pm kick-off).
The Brewers then follow that clash with a trip to Mickleover Sports on Friday night, before matches against Solihull Moors (July 18), AFC Wimbledon (July 21) and Matlock Town (July 22) and Rocester (July 24).
West Bromwich Albion visit the Pirelli Stadium on July 26, Shrewsbury Town host the Brewers three days later and the curtain comes down on their pre-season preparations with a home game against former Premier League champions Leicester City (August 1).
Then the real work starts, with their Championship opener against Cardiff on August 5 at the Pirelli - and Lund can't wait for the fun to begin.
"It's always good to get the ball out," said Lund.
"It's been a while since I've really played a 90-minute game, so it's good to play some pre-season friendlies and there's some good teams we're going to play against.
"Hopefully we can get some fitness out of it first of all and then hopefully start getting some results.
"All I've wanted to do is just play, it's a great honour for me and I can't wait to get the shirt on and really give it a go."
