NEW boy Jon Robertson believes Alloa Athletic are ready to face the challenges ahead as they prepare to return to competitive action this week.

The Wasps get their new campaign underway with a double header against Cover Rangers and Montrose in Group D of the Betfred Cup, and their summer recruit reckons the new format will be exciting to be a part of with plenty of twists and turns in store for the fans.

The 27-year-old and his new team mates travel to Links Park to face Montrose on Saturday for their first away test of the season, but he sees it as the perfect chance to show exactly what they’re made of as a squad.

Robertson told Advertiser sport: “I think as squad we are ready to face the challenge of these cup games head on now. There is some real strength in depth in our squad now so I think it will make sense to utilise that with us having the four games inside 10 days now. Tournaments and runs of games like this is the sole reason you have a squad so we have to trust in that and I have no qualms that any of the lads in the squad are capable of going in and doing the job for us. I think everyone will have to play their part.

“The competition format has been exciting so far. There have been a few shocks and I think there are a few teams caught between the hunger to do well in a cup and the fact that it is so early in the season. It is new for everyone and seems to have caught a few teams out as they try to bed new players in for the league campaign. That makes it really interesting and probably makes for some tight and exciting games coming up for us. “The Montrose game poses us with our first real test on the road. The journey up is a long one and we will have to adapt to that, but we will go there with confidence that we can get the result. There is no doubting it will be a tough game, but if we can bring our quality to it then we should come out on top. The group looks like it could be a very tight one. It is maybe that the format is bringing the cautious side out in teams so maybe we should look at that and use it to have a go.”

Robertson made his comeback in the 1-0 win over Berwick Rangers last weekend as the Wasps completed their pre-season friendlies and says the game gave him some much needed game time following an injury scare.

The midfield maestro also admits he is now buzzing for the return of competitive action as the Wasps begin their new football season properly this week.

He said: “The Berwick game was a bit of catch up for me after my injury scare. I had a niggly groin over the past few weeks and I could probably have played the previous game at Cowdenbeath, but myself and the physio have probably just been over-cautious with it to avoid any serious setbacks. It was frustrating, but at the the same time I think it was the right decision at this time of the season.

“It was good time get almost 90 minutes under my belt against Berwick and that may prove vital for me. I think the game suffered a bit in the way of a typical friendly match. The second half never really got going with all the changes then coming in, but it was good for me to get back and get the legs moving again.

“It is exciting to be back talking about the competitive stuff again because at the end of the day that is what we train for and I am excited to see what this season brings. It will be good to get back with that competitive edge to games and I am feeling fit and raring to go now for it.”

The former Cowdenbeath and St Mirren star reckons the team are starting to develop the right mentality after going unbeaten throughout their pre-season campaign and he is desperate to see the squad carry that into the competitive action.

Robertson added: “We have to just kick on now from going unbeaten throughout pre-season. It has given us a real confidence and helped us gel together as a unit so I think we can only get better from here as we continue to get to know each other.

“We have spoken about having that winning mentality from the first day we met up and we have maintained that throughout so hopefully we can carry that into the competitive games now. It is about making winning a habit.”