NEW signing Craig Malcolm says he is looking forward to getting settled in at Indodrill Stadium after sealing his move to Alloa.

Malcolm left Stranraer after two three-year spells, and Jim Goodwin moved quickly to make the striker his third summer signing.

And the 30-year-old can’t wait to link up with the squad, in particular a few old friends.

Malcolm told Advertiser Sport: “I have only heard good things about the club. I know a few of the guys who were here last season. Jamie Longworth and Neil Parry are good friends, and I also played with Frank McKeown and Scott Taggart at Stranraer.

"Everyone has had very good things to say about the club and all the boys. I’m really looking forward to working with them.

“Playing for a team which is challenging higher up the table is something which is very exciting for me.

"Having played against Alloa last season I know we will be a team that plays football the right way.

"It looks like the majority of last season’s squad is staying together too so hopefully with one or two additions we can kick on.”

After a season spent towards the foot of the table with Stranraer, Malcolm says he is buzzing to line up for one of League One’s title hopefuls.

He is confident the Wasps can be right in the mix come the end of the season, and warned the teams dropping down from the Championship that they will not have it easy.

Malcolm said: “You have got to aim for the top. It will be a bit tougher with three full-time teams in the league this year but we all saw how difficult it was for Dunfermline when they came down.

"It took them three years, so it won’t be as straightforward as the teams coming down might think. There are a lot of good teams in the league.

"If you get a good start it will breed confidence, and that puts you in a great position to keep it going throughout the rest of the season.

“I think this will be the most competitive division for quite a few years. There are four or five teams all in with a realistic shout of winning the title.

"One or two contenders could even miss out on the playoffs which is crazy, but it will make for a really interesting season. Hopefully at the end of it, we are right up there.”

Malcolm is aiming to improve on last season’s tally of 18 goals and reckons he will benefit from playing alongside Alloa’s creative midfield.

He added: “Most of the time I manage 15 goals as a minimum so hopefully I will be able to add to that. There are a lot of good creative players here and that will definitely help me improve my tally.

"I’ve always said a striker is only as good as the guys behind him. If you’re not getting service you won’t score goals. Hopefully, I will be able to benefit from having good support around me.”