DORCHESTER Town centre-back Kieran Douglas is up for the fight of cementing a starting place at the Magpies amid competition for places next season.

Dorchester are expected to play five at the back in the majority of games as boss Glenn Howes irons out plans for his first full season in charge.

Douglas is one of numerous high-quality centre-backs at the club, with Keith Emmerson and Louie Slough having joined existing stars Callum Buckley and Harvey-Joe Bertrand.

And, while the former Winchester man recognised the difficulty involved in earning selection, he is relishing the challenge.

He told Echosport: “It’s always nice to have friendly competition. They’ve got so many quality players down at Dorchester.

“I like having the competition. I’m one of only two right-sided defenders that can play centre-half.

“It always gives you something to push for and makes you work harder in training to keep your shirt.

“It’s a great group of lads and Glenn’s said to us there’s going to be rotation around the squad, so I’m not worried.

“I always back myself that I’m good enough and work hard enough to keep my spot in the side anyway.”

Douglas has battled back from a hamstring injury sustained in March to enjoy his first taste of football with Dorchester in pre-season – ending a spell of four months without a game.

“I tore my biceps femoris and me being me I tried to rush myself back quicker than I could’ve done,” he admitted.

“I was trying to make myself fit and get back for the play-offs. I just ended up making my injury worse.

“From March I didn’t play any football. I’ve worked really hard at the gym recovering and strengthening over the summer.

“I’ve come back in and my first 45 minutes was against Sholing, so it’s good to get some minutes in the legs again.

“It’s such a nice feeling. The new challenge and new team, it brings out that little bit more fire in the belly to come back and prove how good I know I am."