LUKE Joyce says he is grateful for another chance of league football after linking up with his new Accrington Stanley team-mates for the first time this week.

Joyce was released by League One side Carlisle United last month after failing to command a regular place at Brunton Park and feared he might have to drop into non-league, with so many players searching for clubs this summer.

The credit crunch has tempted many sides to operate with smaller squads and the 21-year-old, who had loan spells with non-league clubs Barrow and Northwich last season, is relieved to have joined Stanley in League Two on a 12-month deal.

Joyce started pre-season training with the rest of the squad on Monday and said: “I wanted to stay in the Football League but there were a lot of players in the same position, more so than ever because a lot of players are being released because of financial issues.

“I’ve been looking forward to pre-season training but I’ve been keeping in shape anyway.”

The midfielder – not related to the former Bolton, Preston and Burnley player Warren Joyce – will link up with former Wigan youth team colleague Phil Edwards at Stanley and has been informed about the club’s reputation of developing young players.

“I was aware that in the last couple of years that players have done well and then got a chance to move on,” he said.

“But all I’m thinking about at the moment is getting into the first team, doing well and staying in the team.

“I like to think of myself as a forward-thinking midfielder, getting into the box and getting on the end of crosses and hopefully scoring a few goals.

“I like to get the ball down and play football, but I can also play the longer ball when it’s needed and I’ll work myself into the ground.

“I’ve known Phil Edwards for a few years because we played together at Wigan. I hadn’t spoken to him for a while but I sent him a text and he recommended Accrington, saying they were a good bunch of lads and it was a good club.

“It was tough at Carlisle because I was there for three years and we had four different managers and they went for the more experienced heads.

“But I did make 29 appearances and I thought I did quite well. In the end my face didn’t fit.

“I was on loan at Barrow last season and in my first game we beat Brentford 2-1 in the FA Cup, then in my last game we played at Middlesbrough. That was a great experience.

“Before I signed for Accrington I spoke to Darlington, but I was always sceptical about the travelling because I’d done that for three years with Carlisle.

“I live on the outskirts of Bolton, so Accrington fitted the bill perfectly.”