Haydn Hollis ready to step up for Notts County after his "best pre-season"

Notts County defender Haydn Hollis says he has worked harder than ever to get fit for the upcoming season and feels like the campaign will be one of the best ones the Magpies have had in recent years.

The centre-back signed a one-year deal during the course of the summer, being one of only a handful of players from last season's campaign to be offered a new contract, but amid criticism about his distribution, he says he has ironed those flaws out and pledges to be more consistent.

Hollis told the Nottingham Post: "There are only one or two year deals offered to players at this level, and there are so many players still out there who I know of that can't get clubs and they've had 200-odd league games. It's crazy so you have to take every chance you get.

"I did a lot of pre-season work off my own back and I said to myself that I've got to do some preparation for when I came back. If you don't come back fit then you don't give yourself the best chance. But I think this is my best pre-season up to now.

"The manager has pulled me to the side and said he believed in me. He just wanted me to relax and play my own game. I don't think I've done myself any harm.

"A lot has been said about my distribution, but I can do it. It's just about decision making at different times. I think I've proved that I can do it.

"It's just consistency, like the gaffer says he wants. He wants seven out of 10 every week. You can't do it one week and not another.

"I'm very comfortable and confident with the lads we have got this year. That doesn't mean I was not comfortable with the lads we had last year. But I've not had the confident feeling since the (Shaun) Derry days really and I can feel good times for the club coming on again."

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