New signing Joe McDonnell is eagerly awaiting his debut for the club, which is set to come at Yeovil this weekend.
The former AFC Wimbledon keeper signed on Monday and is on course to make his first appearance for us as we look to earn a place in the quarter-finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy.
And, after waiting in the wings at Kingsmeadow for the majority of 2019-20, McDonnell can’t wait to get cracking now he’s a Notts player.
“It’s almost like I’ve been rested all season just to come and play now so I’m looking forward to getting as many games as I can and helping the team win,” said the keeper.
“It’s good to be thrown straight into it because you want to bed yourself in and get to know the lads and what they are like, so it helps you learn and understand the team quickly.
“I don’t feel much pressure. It’s only what you put on yourself and you just have to go and do your job.
“We’ve got to go there, put a performance in and get ourselves heading home happy.”
Since reuniting with Neal Ardley, the man who took him to Wimbledon, McDonnell has had just a few days working with his new team-mates but likes what he has seen.
“Training brings that intensity because you’re fighting for something,” he said.
“The gaffer and Neil Cox are very demanding, which is what you need when you’re going for promotion, and I enjoy working with them so it’s a good fit.
“Their demands make you better. When they demand off you, you demand off everyone else and it becomes player-led which is good.
“It’s a strong squad. I was pleasantly surprised and can’t speak highly enough of the lads.
“They are a good bunch who work hard and if you compare it with the quality in League One, there’s not much difference.”
Although he’s signed a contract until the end of the season, the keeper hopes to be a long-term resident at Meadow Lane.
“If I can earn the right I’d 100 per cent like to stay here,” revealed McDonnell.
“The main goal is promotion and then I want to earn myself a new contract – hopefully that will be in League Two, which would be even better.
“We want to push for something special and going from Wimbledon, where there was a relegation battle, to fighting for promotion here is positive.
"I’m excited by it.”