Paul Bolland is predicting that the Silkmen will make a mockery of the bookies making them favourites for the drop this term.

The midfielder, who returned to the Moss Rose after being released by manager Gary Simpson in the summer, is itching to get under way and prove the knockers wrong.

"I’m defintely excited about the new season," he told the Express. "I think everyone looks forward to it after the break, especially once we’ve got the least enjoyable part of pre-season – the running – out of the way.

"I think our prospects are good, Macclesfield is a team that’s always written off in this league but I’ve said numerous times that there are young lads here with lots of potential.

"We’ve got a great dressing room here, the spirit is fantastic. That can be worth an extra 10 points or so a season, and we’ll be quite happy to be written off before every game."

The 30-year-old, who earned the respect of his fellow pros and supporters during years at Bradford City, Notts County and Grimsby Town, made his return to Macc’s midfield in the 7-1 pre-season win at Leek Town and is cautious but confident that, with the talent available, Simmo’s side can cause other teams a few problems.

"While you don’t want to read too much into good results against lower-league opposition, we’ve looked both solid and threatening at the same time. The real test for us comes at Stevenage on Saturday.

"It will be a tough opening game but we want to get off to a winning start against them."

The Yorkshireman’s injury-hit campaign was limited to just 17 starts in the league last time around, which was the overriding factor in his end-of-season release, but Simpson had no hesitation in re-recruiting the veteran on a one-year deal last month.

He even found time to score the winner in Saturday’s final friendly against Rhyl.

Meanwhile, Bolland remains philosophical about his unsettling summer, which saw him undergo short-lived spells at Blue Square Premier side York City, as well as Macc’s recently-relegated rivals Stockport County.

"I had a bit of a stop-start season and when that happens it’s difficult to get any momentum," he reflected. "I was disappointed to be released in the summer but that’s the type of business that we’re in. I’ve been doing it for 12 years now so you accept that’s it’s part of the game.

"I’m feeling stronger and fitter now. I’d trained with a few clubs but I’d had no concrete offers.

"At Stockport they brought a new manager in [former Rochdale and Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson]. He had his own plans and his own vision for the club, so I didn’t stay. When the gaffer phoned me up to see if I would come back to Macclesfield, I had no hesitation."

It was a move he doesn’t regret one iota, given the spirit and ability within the club.

"You can see that Tyrone Barnett and Emile Sinclair look very promising up front. Morgs [Paul Morgan] is our captain, he’s a great defender and a good leader on the pitch. Obviously he’s a player that will be a big miss for us but with the likes of Nat Brown and Shaun Brisley we’re more than capable in the centre of defence.

"Hopefully he’ll be back sooner rather than later though, and when he is the good thing is the competition for places in the team.

"We’ve also got Ricky Sappleton and Ross Draper on the way back from injury and Hamza is getting there.

"It’s going to be tough to stay in this team but I’ll get my head down, work hard and hopefully I’ll be able to help the team."

Another factor in Bolland’s return to Macc was the memorable but tragic period last March in the club’s history when manager Keith Alexander passed away.

"It was a really tough time for everybody concerned with the club," he remembers.

"It was something that I’d never experienced before, losing someone that you’d seen and worked with every day, but the way everybody pulled together and secured our league status showed what good people there are throughout this club.

"I’m sure Keith will be looking on with pride this season."