THE frustration of an injury-blighted end to his York City career will spur a fully-fit Scott Kerr to fire for Grimsby Town.
Kerr sealed a one-year deal at Blundell Park after being released by Minstermen boss Nigel Worthington at the end of last season.
His 2011/12 campaign was brought to a premature end when he tore his cruciate ligament, but Kerr returned six months later, only to be forced to sit out the culmination of last season with a back injury.
After taking over from former boss Gary Mills in March, Worthington chose to wield the axe, releasing Kerr, as well as a host of other first-team players.
Confident that his injury woes are now behind him, Kerr admits he had a few clubs chasing his signature over the summer.
But after speaking to joint bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst, he quickly made up his mind to join the Mariners.
And he believes the frustration of his recent injuries will make him more determined than ever in the coming term.
"It was a frustrating season for me last year," he told the Telegraph.
"Two seasons ago, I'd had such a good campaign in the Conference and took all the player of the year awards, but then I got injured in the FA Trophy semi-final against Luton when I tore my cruciate.
"To be told that I was going to miss both Wembley appearances was hard to take.
"But I got myself fit and returned from injury within six months and, maybe sooner than I should have been, I was thrown straight back in. It was hard work at first, but I got back.
"But then I had a problem with my back towards the end of last season and had to miss the final few games – it was frustrating."
He continued: "It was a little bit surprising to be released by York to be honest.
"It happens in football though – a new manager comes in and different managers have different opinions, and a lot of players that got up into the League and won the Trophy were released.
"But that's all behind me now and I'm fully fit and raring to go with Town.
"If anything, I think that frustration of those injuries and then being released has made me hungrier than ever for this season."
Among those credited with an interest in signing Kerr in the close season were his former club Lincoln City.
However, the 31-year-old insists he would never go back to Sincil Bank.
"I had six good years at Lincoln and I got asked a lot of questions about whether I would go back there, but personally I was never going to go back," he added.
"I had good times there and I'd rather leave it at that. A lot of people go back to their old clubs and it doesn't really work out. I'd rather leave it where it belongs.
"It's the start of a new part of my life at Town and I can't wait.
"Yes, I played for one of the club's local rivals, but that's in the past now. I'll be pulling on a Grimsby shirt and giving 110 per cent every week."
