"The boss has made a couple of good signings in Hugo Viana and Titus Bramble, and we have a good young squad at the club with plenty of competition for places all over the pitch.
"We've moved into the new training ground and the pre-season training has been going well. We've got some good games coming up before the season starts and we'll be in good shape by the time the West Ham game comes around.
"I don't see any reason why we can't be up there with the top three or four again once the new season starts, and after finishing fourth last year the aim has to be to make further progress this time around."