OLLIE Norburn is loving life at Prenton Park and can’t wait for the serious business to get started, writes Richard Garnett.

Previously of Macclesfield Town, Norburn was Micky Mellon’s first summer signing and arrives having netted five times from midfield for the Silkmen last season.

The 24-year-old is no stranger to the Super White Army – it was his goal at Prenton Park that knocked Tranmere out of the FA Trophy at the semi-final stage.

Speaking after Rovers’ impressive 3-1 pre-season victory against Fleetwood Town, he said: “They’re positives signs. I think we dug in. It was a fitness exercise but as a team we said that we want to get used to winning ways and we’ve done that.

“We’ve had the run out against Liverpool – our first game – I think we did well. Cammell Laird we were expected to win but it was good for the lads to get goals and get minutes under their belts.

“Tonight we’ve worked our socks off and got a good result.” Norburn will compete for midfield birth alongside Jay Harris, James Wallace and Jeff Hughes, but the Bolton-born Chelsea youth product has took to his new club like a duck to water.

He said: “It’s a great bunch of lads. I’ve settled in quite easily to be honest. I’ve took to the lads well and I think they’ve took to me as well. I’m just looking forward to what’s hopefully going to be a successful season.

“It’s a changing room where there’s a lot of winners and a lot of experienced players. I don’t think there’s one of us in that dressing room that want’s to be in this league. That includes the manager and the staff as well.

“I’d just be happy to be in the team. I’ll play wherever the manager asks me to play. I do like getting forward and scoring goals but if it’s playing in a deeper role and trying to dictate play and get on second balls, I’m more than happy to so.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work on the training ground and it’s looking positive.”

Like Tranmere, Norburn suffered his own heartache at the National stadium last season, when Macclesfield surprisingly lost to relegated York City in the FA Trophy Final – a feat he does not wish to repeat:

“Definitely not. Hopefully we won’t have to go to Wembley but I don’t want to speak too soon. I’m just looking forward to the start of the season now. Let’s get underway with winning ways and winning games.

“It’s not going to be easy. Every one of us knows that. But all we can do is work hard in training and in games, listen to what the manager and staff are saying to us, take it on board and take that into the season.

“I’ve got my personal goal target but I’ll keep that to me. I just want a successful season and for the team.”