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WELL DONE BOYS - Danny Thomas takes the congratulations of his team-mates after his strike against Derby County
Hitting form
Mike Glendinning25/ 7/2007
"MY PLAYERS are hungry, excited and confident" - that's the claim of Ian Brightwell after his team earned a draw with Championship side Stoke City and a victory against Derby County.
While the novice manager is pleased with the results, he will not get carried away as he takes his team to Blue Square North side Southport on Saturday.
The Macc boss stresses that it is the players' performances and fitness levels that are more important, but he is delighted with the results.
Brightwell said: "Obviously, from a personal point of view, it's great to get my first win as manager of Macclesfield Town, but it's all about the fitness at this stage, and getting the players to gel and knit together.
"We've been playing some excellent football and we looked strong in the last two games.
"The players are willing to work hard for each other and they're defending well."
With the opening match against Bradford City on the horizon, Brightwell and Asa Hartford have the squad playing an attractive brand of football as well as working hard in all areas of the field.
"It's been that way since they came back in after summer," added Brightwell.
"I'm happy that they're also relaxed and enjoying it, and playing football in the right areas.
"They're all looking fit and sharp and we've got three weeks to get to peak fitness, so I'm very pleased right now."
- MACC will start the season with four players unavailable with injury.
With Nick Blackman sidelined with a knee problem until the end of September and Andrew Teague still not fully recovered from his leg break, Jamie Tolley and Dave Morley have joined them on the injured list.
Tolley has had surgery on a ruptured wrist tendon and the club captain has had an operation to remove a piece of chipped bone in his ankle.
Both are expected to be out of action until early October.
Meanwhile, Brightwell is continuing the trials of midfielder Terry Dunfield and goalkeeper Matt Baker.
"They've done well, I've been delighted with them from day one," he said.
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25/07/2007 at 15:19