Yeovil Town new boy Malachi Linton has said the opportunity to play under the club’s new management team played a major part in his decision to sign.
The 21-year-old, who joined last week following his release by Wycombe Wanderers at the end of last season, said boss Chris Hargreaves was “a driving factor” in his decision.
He admitted that the first day of pre-season training on Monday had been a signal of intent from the new manager, saying: “It’s been no joke, we’ve been straight in and hitting it hard. The Gaffer obviously has some ambitions and is setting the pace really early.
“The manager was the key driving factor, I spoke to him, he’s up front and honest with great values and along with the other management it is a no brainer.”
The former Ipswich Town scholar also spoke to the club’s YouTube channel about his desire to learn from Marcus Stewart, the club’s new Head of Player Development.
Stewart scored 19 Premier League goals in one season for Linton’s hometown club, Ipswich Town, in 2000-01, although admittedly the new boy was only born in December 2000.
He said: “I’m all about bettering myself and what better person to learn off and do that?”
The striker, who describes himself as “a dynamic forward with a lot of energy“, believes he can pick up where he left off after a loan spell in the National League with King’s Lynn Town last season.
He scored eight times in 31 appearances, including six goals in his final ten games, before departing to undergo surgery on a leg injury.
New threads. August 6th ⏳?. https://t.co/ZkiKHQKKbV
— malachi (@malachi_lints) June 27, 2022
Linton said: “That was my first full season in men’s football, so I found it eye opening. I really enjoyed my time there, playing games and scoring goals.
“I feeling fighting fit, I’m nice and healed and just building back up and I will be ready to go (when the National League season gets started) on August 6.”
He added: “I’m hungry to win and I’m hungry to score. I’m looking to bring as much as I can, win as many games and score as many goals as I can.
“It is a big club with big ambition and hopefully I can help it fulfil those ambitions. It is a pull and a massive bonus because every player wants to play for a big club in front of a big crowd.”
The club’s social media account was awash with pictures from the first day of pre-season training at Huish Park on Monday.
As ever, the pictures were carefully selected to only showing already announced members of the squad.