NEW boy Jamie McClen has spoken of the excitement in the dressing room about the prospect of kicking off Kidderminster Harriers' pre-season programme tonight.

McClen, who is one of a dozen new faces in the squad for tonight's trip to Gloucester City, admitted: "We can't wait to get started now."

The 27-year-old Geordie midfielder insists he has slotted in comfortably since putting pen to paper on a one-year deal.

"Training's gone well so far but we're all desperate to start playing now," said McGlen who is living with Simon Russell until he finds a place of his own.

"There's a great set of lads here, the banter's already flying about and although there's a lot of new lads the spirit in the dressing room is good.

"The gaffer has worked us hard so far with running and everything and we've started to do some ball work now so I've been able to see the quality we've got in the squad."

McClen is determined to get his career back on track at Aggborough after it came to a standstill at boyhood club Newcastle United.

"I'm a Newcastle fan and I was there from the age of 10, signed forms at 16 and left when I was 26," he said.

"It was a bit of a wrench to leave there but I needed to get out for the sake of my career.

"I see Kidderminster as a great opportunity to start moving in the right direction again and myself and the rest of the lads can't wait to get started now."

Between leaving St James's Park and rolling up at Aggborough, McClen had brief spells at Carlisle United and Shrewsbury Town in League Two.

But it was the promise of regular football that convinced the midfield dynamo to join Mark Yates's Kidderminster revolution.

"I had a couple of sniffs from clubs in the summer but nothing concrete," he said.

"The gaffer here told me his plans and convinced me to come here and I'm sure I made the right decision."

McClen's enthusiasm is already shining through and he describes his energy and hunger for the ball as his greatest attributes on the pitch.

"I always want the ball and I never hide in games," he added. "Whether I'm asked to sit in the holding role or bomb on forward I like to be involved and I always make myself available."