Motherwell fans will see the real me after solid pre-season, says star
Andy Halliday says he feels great after getting a proper training programme behind him
Andy Halliday says Motherwell fans will see him at his best after getting a full pre-season behind him.
The former Rangers midfielder endured a torrid time last season where he played just six times for Hearts between August and November.
A loan to Motherwell followed at the end of January, which became a permanent one-year deal in the summer, but an increase in action resulted in a calf and hamstring injury.
Halliday, 32, says he has benefited greatly from getting a full programme under his belt, travelling to Delden in the Netherlands with Motherwell and played in a 2-2 draw with FC Twente and an 8-0 thumping of DSVD Deurningen.
Motherwell then beat Championship newcomers Falkirk in a closed-doors game and triumphed 2-1 over Livingston at Fir Park last Saturday, with the midfielder setting up both goals for Shane Blaney and Moses Ebiye.
And the former Middlesbrough and Livingston ace said: “I think it was important for myself, after a stop-start last season, to have a good pre-season, come back in a good place in terms of my body, and get as much training and minutes on the pitch as I possibly can.
“For myself, I feel like pre-season probably couldn’t go any better, and it’s all guns blazing towards the first competitive game of the season.
“Getting a good pre-season is vital for me. I think it’s vital for any player, but I think especially after the stop-start nature of my season last year and joining here in January.
“It was about coming back this pre-season, making sure my body was right, and maintaining that and trying to build on that.
“I think the friendlies have gone really well, we had a couple of games over in Delden and had a two fixtures since we’ve come back as well.
“They’re friendlies, but we’re unbeaten in the four of them, with three victories.
“I think that’s important because I always feel that winning is a habit, and hopefully we continue that going into the games.”
When asked if Motherwell fans will see the real ‘Andy Halliday’ he said: “Certainly that’s what I’m looking for. It was very difficult to get my full 100 per cent fitness last season, with me going such a long period of time without playing any football, coming back in with three games in a week, doing my calf, then my hamstring, so it was all quite a frustrating period.
“I knew it was going to be a big pre-season for me, albeit we’re still very early in our preparations and it will still take time for the squad to gel together and for boys to get towards their full match sharpness.
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