BARROW AFC skipper Niall Canavan says everyone is determined to push on again this season.

The Bluebirds entertain Crewe Alexandra at Holker Street tomorrow, and Canavan says the whole squad has a fire in their bellies for the new League Two campaign.

He told the Mail: “Everyone is wanting to do better than last year, both personally and collectively as a team.

“Everyone is pushing to go that next step if they can regardless of age, experience or whatever it is.

“Everyone has got something to play for, and we just can’t wait to get going, and hopefully we will get off to another good start.”

On a personal note, the defender has declared himself fit for the League Two curtain raiser.

The defender sat out part of the pre-season build up with a niggle.

But he is back and available for the Crewe game if called upon.

He added: “I’m back in full training so I’m available for selection if the manager sees fit.”

Canavan says the opening game has felt like it has taken an age to arrive, but now that it almost here he can’t wait.

“It’s been quite a long summer this one,” he said. “Everybody is getting memories on their social media of last season, and at this point we’d already played two games.

“So, we are all just looking forward to getting the real stuff going.

“Pre-season is always a hard period, but once you get to about halfway through, you just can’t wait for the games to start where there is three points on the line, and proper crowds in the stadium and stuff.

“That real atmosphere of like it’s life or death again.

“Everyone is buzzing and raring to go, and we are literally just looking forward to three o’clock tomorrow.”

The Bluebirds have brought in a number of new faces over the summer, but Canavan has no worries about them gelling as a squad.

He said: “The new lads have come in and I can guarantee that you can ask all of them ‘how have you managed to settle in? And they’ll be like it’s been real easy’.

“And that’s just because there’s nobody who runs it (the player’s group) with an ego or anything like that.

“It is a group of fellas who come in to work hard together, with a common goal of whatever you set it out to be.”

New signing Chris Stokes said the team spirit in the dressing room was one of the main reasons he wanted to join the Bluebirds.

And Canavan says he isn’t the first to be won over by the togetherness and camaraderie among the players.

He said: “I think we had that last year with James Chester.

“He came in and wasn’t really sure what he wanted to do, but wanted to do a bit of training and keep himself fit, keep himself ticking over.

“And the big thing that sold it to him was the actual dressing room, the lads in the changing room, and the atmosphere.

“You want to go to work somewhere you enjoy yourself, and that’s very much something that we’ve managed to create.

“So, hopefully that continues, and it allows everyone to flourish as best they can.”