McNiff: This season will be my big break

Published 22 Jun 2010 10:00 0 Comments

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SONS starlet Martin McNiff insists he is ready to target a regular first team place, as preparations for the new season hot up.

The 18-year-old admitted he wasn't chuffed with his performances in the first half of the last campaign.

But he managed to put his first-season jitters behind him to make a positive impact in Jim Chapman's team.

McNiff made 13 appearances in his first full season with the Sons and he now wants to become a top team regular at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium.

He told Sport Scene: "In the first half of last season I wasn't happy with myself.

"I don't know if it was first-season nerves but every time I played I wasn't happy with my performance

"But as the season went on I got a bit more confidence and we travelled up to Peterhead one night and that changed it for me.

"All I really needed was one game to get me going and even the manager said that was one of my best games which really helped.

"I saw myself as a back-up player last season but this season I want to push into the first team because I have my own personal targets."

McNiff, who made his first-team debut against Albion Rovers in September 2008, admitted it was a huge step up in fitness standards when he rose up from under-19 level.

He said: "You really need to be in tip-top condition to play at this level. But the more I played last season the more I got into it.

"I just need to work hard in pre-season and push on for the season ahead.

"I have been jogging a lot recently and feel fitter than last season. I feel ready for the season and I hope to break into the first team."

McNiff heaped praise on Dumbarton boss Chapman and admitted he would be nowhere near Second Division football if it wasn't for his gaffer.

He added: "It's all down to the manager. He gave me my chance and if it wasn't for him I would probably still be playing at boys club level.

"He has been fantastic for the club.

"When he took over they were in the bottom half of the Third Division and a season and a half later the club were promoted and are challenging for a play-off spot.

"That's a great achievement and there are a lot of young players in the team and he has done a fantastic job.

"I don't see why we can't reach the First Division.

"I think we had the best record last season against the top four teams but it was our results against the lower teams that let us down."

And the Sons manager certainly rates McNiff highly, so expects him to have a terrific season.

Chapman said: "I'm expecting Martin to kick on a bit this year. He's a good kid and if he makes the same progress as he did towards the end of last season then it will be an exciting year.

"He has been doing really well of late and he will certainly have a bigger part to play in the coming season." Meanwhile, striker Ross Campbell joined the Sons from Dunfermline on Thursday. He started his career at Hibs and was selected to represent Scotland in the 2007 under-21 World Cup finals in Canada.

From Hibs he went to play in Sweden before coming back to Scotland at the end of last year. On his return he trained with Dumbarton for a brief period and looked set to sign in January until Dunfermline stepped in with a full-time offer.

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 22 Jun 10

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