Midfielder Andre Boucaud may have missed the majority of the Magpies’ pre-season campaign but he is determined to kick-off 2013.14 in the starting 11.
Boucaud spent much of the summer in the USA representing Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF Gold Cup but returned to Nottingham in time to play 45 minutes in the team’s final pre-season encounter against Ipswich Town.
The County number 28 faces stern competition in the central midfield berths, with Joss Labadie and Mark Fotheringham forging a strong partnership during the 2013.14 preparations.
Having impressed in the Gold Cup to help Trinidad & Tobago reach the Quarter Final of the competition, Boucaud is feeling confident and in great shape following his reunion with his County teammates.
He told Magpie Player: “It feels great to be back and I’m trying to work hard to get into the team.
“It’s not ideal missing so much of pre-season but it’s not like I was on holiday, I was playing in a big tournament where the training was very hard.
“There was a lot of running and double sessions every day, because at the end of the day we were preparing for a big cup, just like here we’re preparing for League 1.
“With a lot of people in my position, you’ve got to work hard and the pressure’s on, because if you don’t perform then someone else gets an opportunity.
“That’s how football is and I don’t mind about the task ahead, I’ll come in here and do what I’ve got to do.”
Notts face a tough opening to the 2013.14 Sky Bet League 1 campaign, which begins with a trip to Sheffield United on Friday night, before another tough clash with Boucaud’s former club Peterborough United back at Meadow Lane on 10 August.
He continued: “They’re big teams and it’s not going to be easy, but at the end of the day I think we can go and perform against them.
“We’ve got to go there, be confident and believe we can win.
“If we believe we can win then I think we can get a result.”
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