STRIKER Jamie Clarke aims to put his injury nightmare behind him and fire the Reds towards the top of the League Two table when the season kicks off on August 9.

The 19-year-old has signed on loan until Christmas from Premier League side Blackburn Rovers and made his debut in the 3-0 loss to Championship side Burnley.

And the pacey frontman is hoping the move will work in his and Accrington’s favour.

Clarke, from Huddersfield, was top scorer at the Ewood Park Academy for two seasons and was offered a new one-year-deal in April which shows the esteem he is held in at Blackburn, especially after two serious injuries.

"I had a double hernia operation around two seasons ago and had only been back a few months when I snapped the ligaments in my ankle during a reserve game last year," said Clarke, who also spent time at Manchester United before Rovers.

"It was a hectic time but I feel good now. I am ready to have a good season and I have a smile on my face again.

"I wanted to go out on loan and I was grateful that anyone was interested in me but I am pleased to come to Accrington.

"If I could get a league goal I would be over the moon and I want to show what I can do."

Clarke only linked up with his new team-mates on the morning of the Burnley game and admitted it was "like going back to school" meeting everyone.

But he is hoping he can strike up a strong partnership with the Reds’ top scorer Paul Mullin.

"He is a great player and I hope I can work off him all the time," said Clarke.

"My game is really getting in behind defenders and running the channels - I am not really a hold up player so it is good that Paul can do that and I hope it works well."

Manager John Coleman has now let all the trialists go after Tuesday’s 3-1 loss at Burscough but is still in the hunt for a frontman and a winger.

He was hoping to snap up a loan striker from Coventry but that deal appears to have fallen through. "I am trying to get a striker in by the weekend and will try and add a winger to the squad," he said.

Meanwhile, Coleman is waiting to find out the extent of John Mullin’s ankle injury.

A deal has been agreed with the midfielder - although he has yet to sign - but he is struggling with an ankle problem.

The 32-year-old had an operation on his ankle last season.

"It is his ankle again which is a worry," said the Reds boss.

"It is a niggly injury and it is a small problem affecting a big area. Hopefully we will get that sorted.

"It is frustrating for John because he wants to play football and is in good shape."

Stanley’s first team squad got another match under their belts with a 1-0 behind-closed-doors friendly win over Huddersfield Town on Wednesday. John Miles was the scorer with the Reds playing against the Terriers’ new signing Gary Roberts.

The ex-Stanley player signed for Town for an undisclosed fee - the Reds do have a sell-on clause if it is above the £220,000 Ipswich paid for him.

Meanwhile, Stanley continue their pre-season with a trip to Conference new boys Barrow on Saturday (ko 3pm) and against Everton Reserves on Wednesday at the FES (ko 7pm) where the gate money will go towards the new 1000-seater stand Stanley need to have built by next year.

And captain Peter Cavanagh says preparations have been going well.

"All the players are raring to go and hopefully, personally I can stay injury free.

"We say it every year, but we would love a decent cup run and we want to improve our league position from 17th last season."

Cavanagh continued: "The new players have settled in. Colin Murdock, a senior member of the squad, has fitted in well even with a lot of the mad cap players and hopefully he will provide what has been missing at the back.

"Chris King gets better every time I see him play and he is a fantastic runner - he even eclipses Andy Procter which takes some doing. He looks like he will be a top addition.

"Jimmy Ryan has quality and has been in a top team in Liverpool where he won the Youth Cup twice.

"Jamie Clarke looks lively. The signs are promising although he will take a bit longer to get used to Paul Mullin and the rest of us.

"And John Mullin will be a shrewd acquisition once he recovers from his injury. I have been there where you pick up an injury in pre-season and know how frustrating it is."