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New recruit Marc Laird believes his all-action style will fit perfectly into the Tranmere Rovers revolution.

The 28-year-old Scot has put pen to paper on a one year deal at Prenton Park after being released by Southend at the end of last season.

Laird, a former Manchester City reserve team player, has clocked up 200 appearances in his career and lists Leyton Orient, Brentford and Milwall among his former clubs.

Rovers boss Rob Edwards has played against Laird and can vouch for his incessant work-rate and quality on the ball.

Edinburgh-born Laird has described himself as a “box-to-box” midfielder and has thanked Tranmere for giving him the opportunity to carry on his career closer to his Manchester home.

Laird said: “The club is a massive club in this division and the manager really spoke to me about the way he wants to play football because it suits my game.

“I like to get on the ball and pass it. I’m a hard working midfielder and I’d class myself as a box to box midfielder.”

“It wasn’t so much a wrench to leave Southend but I did make a lot of good friends there,” he added.

“I felt really settled at that football club and the fans and all the players made me feel welcome.

“But this was an opportunity for me to come home because I have a home in Manchester. This will be the first time in seven years that I will be able to travel to training from home.

“I have a little boy and a partner and I’ve been away from them for that amount of time so it feels right for me to come home.

“I sort of had an idea that I wouldn’t get offered anything at Southend beyond my existing contract.

“But I didn’t give up and wanted to try and earn myself a new deal.

“But things have worked out well for me.”

Laird got a taste of the first-team experience when at Man City but never made his debut.Under Stuart Pearce the youth player was on the verge of a senior breakthrough but the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksen by new club owner Thaksin Shinawatra meant his days were numbered.

“Sven was the manager in my time there and so was Stuart Pearce,” he recalled.

“Stuart was really good for my career and helping me develop.

“Sven came in and there was a change of circumstances under Shinawatra.

“He threw a bit of money at it whereas before they had relied heavily on the youth.

“I was on the bench a couple of times for the first-team, against Wigan and Tottenham on the final day of the season.

“But soon after I moved to Milwall with Kenny Jackett.”