New Tranmere signing Jay Spearing may have found a love for running during lockdown but he is more than ready make sure Tranmere's 2020/21 campaign is a footballing success.

The former Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool midfielder was brought to Prenton Park by Mike Jackson in the summer and was on press conference duties for the club ahead of the new season's curtain-raiser against Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup First Round.

The regular media gathering was the club's first to be conducted via a live stream, but 31-year-old Spearing was undaunted by the unusual use of technology.

Asked about how the team has found pre-season training during the pandemic, he said: "It's been something that we're not used to. Obviously the first time that we were allowed in, we were in groups of five, so that was different.

"But even in those groups of five they were tough session. There was a lot of passing and a lot of running. We were thankful that after a week we could get back into more team stuff because then there was more running."

Like every other EFL team, Rovers haven't kicked a ball in anger since early March, but Wirral-born Spearing found ways to keep himself going during lockdown, clocking impressive 5k running times around the streets of the borough.

He said: "Personally I feel ready to rock and roll. Throughout lockdown I had to keep going. I was running quite a lot. I was like Mo Farah at one point - the amount of running that I was doing.

"But I came back feeling fresh and sharp and I knew that I was waiting to get this deal done (to join Tranmere). I want to kick on as soon as possible.

"It was one of those things that I kept busy doing (running) and thankfully it worked."

Spearing has tasted success before in the League Cup competition. He was on the bench at Wembley Stadium in 2012 when Liverpool eventually overcame Cardiff City after a penalty shoot-out.

Although League Two Rovers won't be expected to go that far in this year's competition, the ex-Bolton captain says Tranmere should be taking Saturday's match very seriously.

He added: "We take every game as serious as the next. We took all our pre-season games seriously and used them as opportunities to learn and work on the team shape.

"Come Saturday, it's a massive game. It's going to be our cup final. It's one that we need to win. We want to kick off with that winning feeling as soon as possible and that starts on Saturday."

Tranmere Rovers v Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup First Round kicks off at 3pm today at Prenton Park.

Supporters can follow the match on the Globe's live blog right here from 2:30pm.