Alex Baptiste returned to pre-season training earlier this week looking to continue his progress at Bloomfield Road under new manager Ian Holloway.

The defender admitted there was a sense of apprehension about meeting the new manager on Wednesday but he says that the lads are already buying into his ideas.

"You are a bit nervous," he said of meeting the manager for the first time. "But we had a good meeting on our first day and the manager laid down his plans and what he wants to happen. It's very encouraging.

"It's a fresh beginning and a new season with a new manager, so the hard work starts now."

The 23-year-old proved to be a great signing for the Seasiders last season but he knows that he will need to back that up this season if he is to further establish himself in the first-team set-up.

"You set your own personal goals going into the season and I know that I need to improve on what I produced last season. Hopefully I can be a regular starter."

The pre-season fixture schedule sees the first-team take in a trip to Devon as well as games against the likes of Oldham and Rochdale. But it is the home game against Everton that has got many of the players talking.

"They were FA Cup finalists and they'll be bringing loads of internationals here," Baps said. "It'll be good to play a team of that calibre.

"But pre-season is all about getting towards that first game of the season. Regardless of the scores we will be looking at the first game of the season because that's the most important thing."