Returning hero Dougie Hill says he can’t wait to get started back at Alloa for his third spell and feels he owes the club a good season.

The central defender, who spent last season at fellow SPFL Championship Raith Rovers, is delighted to return to familiar surroundings to link up with his former Cowdenbeath coach Danny Lennon.

The no-nonsense centre back admits he has returned to the club as a man on a mission and he is determined to show his best form this time around.

Hill told Advertiser sport: “I am delighted to be back at the club for a third spell and the chance to play in the Championship once again was too good to turn down. I have played in this league for seven seasons in a row now so hopefully I can put that experience to good use and I am sure I will come up against a lot of players that I have played against before.

“The one big thing for me coming back to the club is that I have never really hit the heights that I wanted to at Alloa so I feel like I have a point to prove here. That was in the back of my mind when the offer came and I really hope I can repay the club.

“They have given me three contracts now so I feel like I am due them a good season.

“I worked with Danny at Cowdenbeath when he was one of the coaches so I know what he is all about and the way he likes to play so hopefully that will mean I can settle back in quite quickly. I know what’s expected of me here, and so I cannot wait to get going again now.” Hill missed a large chunk of last season with a shoulder injury and now that he is back fully fit he is hoping that Alloa will reap the benefits of that as he looks to make up for lost time in another exciting SPFL Championship season.

He said: “Last season was a bit of a damp squib for me because I missed seven months of the season through injury and so hopefully I can get a good pre-season in me and hit the ground running this time around. The injury has fully healed now, I am feeling strong and as well as I ever have so hopefully I can produce on the park now. The boys have all been great and we have bonded really quickly.

“The fixtures coming out is always great to get the excitement going again. Our first home game will be a good one against Rangers then our second away game is a good one for me going back to Raith Rovers so early in the season so I am looking forward to that.

“I am just looking to get up to peak fitness now so I can be involved in it all now to make up for the time I missed last year.” The 30-year-old has been there and done it with the club before in terms of battling against the odds and he is sure they can do it again this time around as they look to prove the critics wrong again after being labelled as early season relegation favourites for the coming season.

Hill added: “Every season here the club is touted as relegation candidates, but it doesn’t make a difference to us. I am playing here with a group of boys who are no worse than the squad we had at Raith last season.

“There are a lot of these lads who could play at higher levels so I think as long as we have a good start then we have the quality to be well clear of it. This league is what it is all about.

“I could’ve gone elsewhere in the lower leagues for more money, but you want to test yourself at the highest possible level, at great stadiums in front of big crowds so I can’t wait to get going now.”