Blackpool forward Billy Clarke is delighted to be back in training after missing the club's Premier League adventure through injury. The striker and the rest of the squad returned to pre-season training this morning and is hoping for an injury-free campaign. The 23-year-old ruptured a cruciate ligament in pre-season training ahead of the Seasiders' top-flight campaign. He made a comeback to reserve team action in March and is now trying to force his way back into first-team contention. He said: "It's nice to be back now, I think everybody has been looking forward to getting back, regardless of whether it's pre-season or not. I'm looking forward to it. "I'd like to think I'm up to where the lads are now, if not ahead of them. Hopefully everything is behind me now. I just need to put last year clean out of my head and erase it." The former Republic of Ireland Under 21 international hopes to get a run-out in Blackpool's first pre-season fixture against Rangers on Tuesday 19 July. He continued: "It'll just be nice to play with the lads to be honest. Just to be back in the team will mean a lot so I'm looking forward to that first game. I haven't had that preparation with them for a year so it will be nice to have that again. "Hopefully everybody comes through pre-season unscathed so that we'll be raring to go come the first day of the season." Clarke joined from Ipswich Town in 2009.
