Ian Craney reckons he has played his best football under John Coleman – and he hopes it can continue.

The 28-year-old is in his third spell at the Crown Ground and is raring to go for his third ‘debut’ for the Reds if tomorrow’s clash at home to Shrewsbury goes ahead.

And the Liverpudlian is hoping he can replicate the form which made Swansea splash out £150,000 for him in 2007 and then Huddersfield pay £200,000 for him a year later in his first two spells.

Craney is currently on loan for a month at the Crown Ground, until January 3, from Blue Square Premier side Fleetwood and he says he can’t wait to kick start his Accrington career – again.

"I think John Coleman has always got the best out of me – I have definitely played at my best under John," said Craney, who initially cost Accrington £15,000 from Altrincham in 2004 and then £85,000 from Swansea when he was bought back – the Reds record signing.

"I speak to John and Jimmy Bell about three times every week no matter where I am so I have always kept up to date with what is going on at Accrington.

"Every time I have come back to the club I have done well and, to be fair, the club haven’t done too badly out of me with transfer fees and I just hope, in this first month, I can play some games and score a few goals."

The statistics say the midfielder certainly likes playing for the Reds with 11 goals in the 2004/5 season and 13 goals in the Conference-winning season of 2005/6.

The next season he scored six goals before moving to Swansea and 2007/8 when he was back at Accrington he grabbed eight.

At Huddersfield and Stanley in 2008/9 it was eight and then, last season in an injury-hit campaign for Craney, it was just two for League Two rivals Morecambe.

He has got three goals so far for Fleetwood in this campaign but feels he has got plenty more in him.

The most recent return was a bit of a shock for Craney who was part of the Fleetwood team going for promotion.

"I had played most of this season and got injured against Walsall in our FA¿Cup defeat," he said.

"I missed the next three games but during this time I had spoken to John and he had contacted Fleetwood about me coming on loan to Accrington.

"They said they didn’t want me to go and so I had to go to boss Micky Mellon and force their hand really.

"They have a massive squad at Fleetwood and I wasn’t sure what would happen and I wanted to come back into League Football.

"I did have the chance to come back to Accrington in the summer but I did choose Fleetwood instead.¿

"I just thought it would be a fresh start for me at a club that was going all-out for promotion to the league.

"I thought it was the way forward but now, looking back, I should have probably come to Accrington.

"I missed league football more than I perhaps realised and this is a chance for me to play in League Two again.

"If I do go back to Fleetwood after my month, I want to help them get into the Football League but this opportunity came around and it made sense."

Craney made a winning debut first time around against Burton, Accrington winning 3-1 in 2004.

¿His next ‘debut’ was at Bury in September 2007 where Andy Mangan came back to haunt Stanley in a 2-1 defeat at Gigg Lane.

And he wants to make a winning return against Shrewsbury tomorrow or at Barnet a week tomorrow.

"I can’t wait to play now – I just want to get out there," he continued.

"I scored against Barnet for Accrington early on in my second spell here so it will be nice to do it again."

He continued: "I know I have left Accrington twice but both have been for good deals for the club.

"I liked it at Swansea but I was signed by one manager and then another came in who brought in his own players and the same happened at Huddersfield.

"I understand that. Then last season I went out on loan to Morecambe and it worked out well for me initially as I went with a good friend of mine Phil Jevons who is still there.

"But I had a bit of a nightmare as I had an ankle injury and then came back and had to have a double hernia operation. I really felt I could do well there and it was hard to take at the time.

"Of course we go there on New Year’s Day which is a game I am especially looking forward to.

"Obviously¿Paul¿Mullin is there as well and it is a local derby so it makes it a great game for everyone.

"I have been looking at the League Two table and it’s really close. Two wins can take Accrington into the play-off places and two defeats can take us into the relegation zone – it’s so tight.

"But there are some really good footballers here – in this squad there are a lot more footballers than in my previous time here and I think we will do well.

"Obviously I have just got a month here and it’s up to me to show what I can do, play some games and score some goals and see what happens after that. It is a wait and see at the moment."

But he says it feels like he has never been away from the Crown Ground.

"Nothing has changed to be honest – the banter is still the same and I know most of the lads so I am made up to be back.

"I just need to find a room-mate though so I need to kick Proc out so I can share with Leam Richardson or get rid of Sean McConville so I can room with Bavs – I should have has that written in my contract really!"