RADCLIFFE Boro striker Jamie Miller is hoping to make up for lost time by firing his team to promotion.
The 27-year-old, who works for an accountancy firm in Leeds, has had a miserable two years with injuries, but now feels fully fit and ready to strike fear into UniBond defences yet again.
"I have had a couple of bad years to be honest. I thought I was over the worst when I signed for Boro at Christmas, but I only lasted a handful of minutes before I suffered another setback," explained Miller.
"However, it's the first time in ages that I feel fully fit. I have been getting better and better in training and I felt I did well in the pre-season friendly games with Stalybridge and Northwich. I was gutted with my performance against Bury, but that was my first 45 minutes in two years and I probably wasn't ready.
"I now have to show Andy (Johnston, the manager) that I am worth my place in the team because there is plenty of competition for places up-front with Tony Evans, Kieran Lugsden and Pat McFadden also battling for a place."
It is that competition for places that Miller reckons can fire Boro to promotion: "If you look around the UniBond, all the best teams have a good partnership up-front. I think part of our problems last season lay in the fact that we didn't have a regular partner for Steve Foster.
"I watched many games last season, and we dominated sides but didn't always take our chances. Hopefully, we can improve on that this season.
"I had a record at Ashton of scoring roughly one in every two games. My aim has to be to equal that, or even better it.
"I came to Radcliffe because I knew they had some very good players and had the potential for success. My aim is to be playing in the Conference North next season."
Boro kick-off their season with a trip to Kendal on Saturday. Then, they play host to Leek Town on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).
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