ANTHONY GERRARD watched Town against Barcelona B last night and knows competition for places is going to be tough.

The 26-year-old central defender is keen to establish himself under manager Simon Grayson as a Championship regular and build on the 100-plus appearances he already has at that level.

he’s confident in his own ability – he’s three times been a player of the year at Walsall (twice) and Hull City (where he was on loan) and he can’t wait to get cracking with Town’s Capital One Cup opener against Preston at Deepdale only four more days away.

“I knew coming here was a great opportunity for me,” said the cousin of England and Liverpool star Steven.

“It enables me to move back to the North West and be close to my family again, but it is also a chance for me to play in a fantastic stadium and be part of a team that’s going places.

“The way Town play football is right up my street and when I spoke to the manager, he sold the club to me.

“I know it’s a great stadium and club from playing here for Walsall and I also remember that the pitch is absolutely massive!

“That bodes well to play football on, but competition for places will be tough and I’m really looking forward to it – and I’ll be giving my all.”

After Preston, his old club are first on the radar for the Liverpudlian, where he was disappointed how things turned out last season.

“You always have a point to prove when you leave a club, particularly in the circumstances that I have left Cardiff,” he said.

“I don’t think I was given a fair opportunity or crack of the whip there. I went to Hull and did exceptionally well, so I was looking forward to returning to Cardiff and getting a clean start – but for some reason that didn’t happen.

“I didn’t play for some reason, so this is a chance for me to get back to playing football and to prove to people that I’m a top player.

“I’m fully focused on the start of the new season and can’t wait to get going, because I didn’t play as many games as I wanted to last time.”

Gerrard had no intention of dropping below the Championship and he’s promised not to shirk a challenge in blue and white stripes.

“I’m a leader on the pitch and, hopefully, I think I can play a bit as well. I am an out and out defender, but I also like to get on the ball.”