IT might be a little early to be making New Year's resolutions, but Greg Pearson already knows exactly what he wants 2013 to bring.
The 27-year-old's wish is to earn the opportunities to kick-start his Grimsby Town career.
After notching an impressive brace in the Mariners' 4-1 win over Mansfield in August, Pearson then picked up niggling groin and knee injuries.
That enforced layoff – combined with the good form of the club's other strikers – has seen the former Burton Albion man restricted to only ten appearances so far this season.
Now fully fit and raring to go, he hopes the start of the busy Christmas period will provide the chances he needs to work his way back into the Mariners side.
Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: "I'd like to think that my injury problems are behind me now.
"The injuries that I had came at a bad time for me because I was just getting going and doing well, but that's football.
"But I'm fit and raring to go now – I have been for a couple of weeks, but because of how well the team has been doing, I've had to wait for my chance.
"That's what I'm doing – I'm working hard and doing extra work with the managers and that's paying off.
"I'm training and working hard, without being impatient, and hopefully that will pay off for me in the games over Christmas.
"The gaffers know that I'm ready and eager to play," he added.
Pearson will be hoping to get an opportunity this evening, as the Mariners entertain Wrexham – the side he describes as the best he has seen so far this season.
Tonight's clash with the Dragons signals the start of what Pearson believes could be an important period in Town's season as they look to set up a New Year promotion push.
He said: "It's a big game tonight for us. Wrexham have got some good, experienced players who have been around the block a fair few times.
"So they're a real contender to win the league and a real threat to us and the rest of the teams who are up there.
"For me, Wrexham are the best team that we've played this season and I like the way that they try to get the ball down and play with purpose," he added.
"They're a good team but, saying that, so are we. I think it will be a great match and hopefully one in which we can come out on top.
"It is a big game, but it all boils down to the fact that there are still three points on offer to us, like in any other match.
"A win would get us three points closer to where we want to be and it's always good to beat the teams around you and pull away from them, but it's just another three points.
"Some good results over Christmas would be a nice present for the fans and for us as well.
"If we can pick up a few points over the Christmas period then it sets us up well for the New Year.
"Personally, in the New Year, I want to play games – that's the main thing for me. If I'm playing, then I'm confident I'll score goals; that's what I've done throughout my career.
"So if I'm playing games and getting back up to the levels of fitness that I had for the Mansfield game, before the injuries, then it will click.
"I feel I'm a good player at this level and the league above so I know that if I'm playing, I can be a useful player for Grimsby Town."
