DUMBARTON midfielder Jordan Kirkpatrick has admitted that he has a lot to prove this season after missing much of the last campaign through injury.

The 23-year-old managed 23 appearances for Sons last season but 13 of those were as substitute — Kirkpatrick tore his thigh during Dumbarton’s 2-1 win over Raith Rovers in December and didn’t feature again until April.

The season before — his first at Sons — brought 36 appearances and seven goals. With new manager Stevie Atiken at the helm, Kirkpatrick has revealed that he is putting himself under pressure to get back to that kind of form, he hopes in a more advanced role behind a striker.

He said: “I need to prove myself a bit because I didn’t play enough last year, but hopefully I’ll get more game time this season. I had two injuries together, I tore my thigh and had a problem with my hip too but hopefully that is behind me.

“When I spoke to the manager about this season he asked where I prefer playing and where I feel comfortable. He said he had high hopes that I would progress this season.

“I’m happiest a bit further forward, in the central midfield area but pushed on a bit behind the striker.

The season before last I got a lot of game time in that position, last year was a bit difficult with the injuries I had but hopefully the gaffer takes on board what I’ve said.” With a lot of teams in the Ladbrokes Championship starting a rebuilding process this season, Kirkpatrick is optimistic that Dumbarton are ahead of the game with the number of signings they have already secured.

Despite there only being one other part-time team in the league this season and big guns Rangers, Hibs and St Mirren to face, Kirkpatrick is confident Sons can match last year’s comfortable mid-table finish of seventh.

He said: “I think we should be looking to finish roughly where we were last season around sixth or seventh, depending on how well we start.

“To be honest the manager has done well to get players in so quickly, there are still teams in our league who are struggling to get a squad together. With the league coming up so soon it is good that we have the bulk of the squad in place.

“That gives us a chance to work together for a few weeks before the season kicks off and hopefully we can take advantage of that.

“I have been impressed with who the gaffer has brought in. The boys that have arrived, from playing against them I always thought they were good players. It’s good to get them into our team and hopefully they do well.”