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"I am very, very excited about the coming season. When you consider the players we were able to bring to the club in the summer, who wouldn't be?" he said.
"But being excited and being satisfied at the end of the campaign is another thing. The top six is our aim.
"I always believe in aiming very high and I will be very disappointed if we do not finish in the leading half-dozen, but then I have been disappointed before.
"It is all hypothetical at the moment but we have a very strong squad here. In the second half of last season we got our act together like no other side, apart from Sunderland when they went up.
"Hopefully we can build on that and we haven't got the distractions of the Champions League and UEFA Cups.
"Although we know it is going to be difficult and the Premiership is a tough league in which to play, we have also got to be honest and say that some of the teams that are up there have got, if you like, some distractions that we haven't.
"I think there will be two or three other teams like ourselves thinking the same thing, that maybe we can capitalise on that.
"Every year one or two teams jump in there that no-one expects and we have definitely got the potential and, from what I have seen so far, the desire to be one of those teams.
"That is always providing we also have that bit of luck every side needs. We don't need too many injuries.
"We have a nice mixture of new players through the side. I am as excited as I have ever been starting a new season.
"This is by far the strongest and most talented club squad in terms of depth that I have ever had to work with.
"I had a strong group at Newcastle but this compares favourably because there I was only able to fetch one or two in, albeit they were excellent players.
"Here, very early on we targeted a group of players and were able to bring them in. I think as a club we have done everything right in preparation for the Premiership."