Damien McCrory believes League One will be an even more competitive proposition for Burton Albion next season than last time - but he is up for the challenge.

The Brewers' longest-serving current player signed a new one-year deal today (Wednesday) to extend his stay at the Pirelli Stadium into a seventh season.

He was a regular throughout Albion's bid to break into the third tier in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, before making 38 appearances as Albion surged to automatic promotion out of League One in their first campaign at that level two seasons ago.

Repeating that feat may be a greater ask this time around, according to McCrory, given the amount of teams desperate to break into the Championship.

Not that that will faze the Albion left-back or his teammates, who are looking to follow the lead of Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Rotherham United, who all bounced back at the first time of asking.

"We were in League One a couple of seasons ago, and it was highly competitive then," McCrory told the Brewers website.

"If you look at next season, I'd imagine it's going to be even more competitive with the teams that are in there and fighting to get out and desperate to get into the Championship.

"It's going to be a massive challenge ahead, but I am definitely up for the challenge and I know everyone else, and the gaffer especially, is up for the challenge.

"Hopefully we can do exactly what Rotherham did last season and bounce back up straight away."

Damien McCrory of Burton Albion
Damien McCrory of Burton Albion

After a couple of seasons in and out of the team, McCrory will be focused on becoming a mainstay of the Burton defence again in 2018-19.

That will be his aim once he and his teammates return for pre-season at the start of July.

"I felt like I never really got a full run of games due to getting injuries," said the 28-year-old, who required surgery on a knee injury and also sustained hamstring and shoulder problems last term.

"That is probably the main thing I want to concentrate on next season, fighting back those niggly injuries or any injuries at all, playing consistently week in and week out and racking up those appearances, hopefully up near the top end of League One."