Exclusive - Pepps looking forward to pre-season

"I'm not back to full fitness yes," said Pepps, who displaced both his tibia and fibia playing for the club in only his second senior game at the beginning of last season.

Pepps was past of the York side which famously beat Man U at Old Trafford.

He suffered a further setback when his young daughter was diagnosed with leukemia just three weeks after the break, but Pepps has come through this describing her battle as an inspiration and thanking the club for allowing him to spend time with her through such a time.

"She's fantastic and helped me no end," he told us, "she was fantastic, the club were fantastic you know, letting me spend time with her.

"She's come through the other side and if she can come through that I can come through anything."

After taking so long to get back to fitness Pepps understandably wants to prove himself to the Iron faithful.

"I've played about five reserve games now but I'm not back to full fitness.

"I was out for over a year and I've not had a pre-season.

"It's an horrible time of year pre-season but you've got to have one, you need that to build your fitness and sharpness up.

"I'm going to get through this season as best I can and then I'll have a good pre-season inside me and I'll be fully fit for the start of next season, you know 100 per cent fit.

"At the moment I'm getting there and I'm getting through the games and that, I'm doing alright. But it's just that final yard and sharpness you need and I'll get there next season."