13 February 2016

McLean ready to get back into gear

Saturday, February 13, 2016

BRIAN McLean is more than ready to kick back into gear for DPMM FC in the new Singapore League (S-League) season.
The Northern Irish defender missed more than a month of pre-season training and finally arrived in the Sultanate on Tuesday after becoming a father for the first time at the beginning of the year.
“To be honest, it is not too difficult (to catch up) because I have been doing this my whole life,” said McLean in an interview with The Brunei Times after a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium on Thursday.
“So when I’m not on the pitch, I’m doing stuff away from home like looking after my body and eating the right food.
“The lads have been great and very patient with me, and they’ve given me a lot of support.
“It has been fantastic and I’m delighted to be able to sign on for another year. I want to thank the club for giving me an extra opportunity to stay for another year and I’m looking forward to the season ahead,” added the 30-year-old centreback.
One of the main factors that helped DPMM FC win their first S-League title was the good understanding that McLean had built with Boris Raspudic.
However, with the S-League import quota reduced from five to three this year, the Bosnian – and Irishman Joe Gamble – did not get a contract extension.
Raspudic’s arrival at the beginning of the 2014 season helped the club to a league-low of 30 S-League goals, and though they finished with the most goals scored (63), they still finished the season second – just three points adrift of eventual champions Warriors FC.
Despite the loss of the influential Raspudic in the heart of defence, McLean feels the team will be able to cope.
“I don’t think will be difficult. In football there are so many different elements that can cause different scenarios,” explained McLean.
“It is what it is. Unfortunately the league has cut the foreign players from five to three.
“The local lads have been exceptional and in good condition and we are just looking forward to a great start this weekend,” he added.
When asked on what his targets are for the new season, McLean replied: “Expectations haven’t changed, which is to go on and win every game that we participate in.
“In that sense nothing has dramatically changed from last season.
“We’ve got a good group of lads and we have a good togetherness which is important,” added McLean, whose whose father was a professional footballer for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock for 15 years before retiring in 1991.
McLean - who joined DPMM FC at the start of last season - has also laced up for Falkirk, Dundee United and Ross County in the top-tier Scottish Premiership.

The Brunei Times

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