GARETH Ainsworth says he has got all the qualities he is looking for in his squad after tying up his eighth new signing of the summer this week.

Former Watford, Sheffield United and Dundee midfielder Stephen McGinn put pen to paper on a two-year deal on Tuesday after impressing during his four-match trial with the Blues, while two of last season’s stalwarts, full backs Sido Jombati and Joe Jacobson both inked new contract extensions.

It completed another good day’s work for boss Ainsworth, who has retained the bulk of last year’s Wembley play-off final runners-up squad and made some quality additions to it with Garry Thompson, Ryan Sellers, Anthony Stewart, Jason Banton, Danny Rowe, Luke O’Nien, Stephen McGinn and loanee Michael Harriman all coming in.

He said ahead of tomorrow’s League Two curtain-raiser at home to York City: “I feel we are ready to go. I think I have assembled a very good squad.

"We had the base of a good squad last year when I was able to sign players of the calibre of Jacobson, Jombati and Paul Hayes and I am delighted we are keeping all of them and we’ve added little bits to it.

“I think the squad is very similar to last year. You always want to improve and with Josh Scowen going, Paris Cowan-Hall going and Alfie Mawson going they were huge players to replace. But Garry Thompson (Check spell) is more than capable, he scored 12 in the level above last season, Jason Banton needs a home and I intend to work very hard with him and we’ve got other players who have played at a higher level or who have a very good pedigree.

"Ryan Sellers looks like an absolute diamond and I think the players that have come in have added to the squad – whether it has improved it only time will tell but, as a manager, you hope it has.”

The manager has no injury concerns for tomorrow’s opener.

He said: “The sports scientists have got the players fit and in the last few weeks we have worked on the tactics. We are ready. We have covered all bases. We’ve got a new pitch, some new fans and I’m looking for the same spirit, the same togetherness and never-say-die attitude and to see us going forward with expression and pace and being solid at the back.”

But the boss is keen to temper the expectation of fans after last season’s club record 84-point haul and play-off final appearance, setting a points target of 61, which is 23 points fewer than last season.

He said: “We massively over-achieved last year. Hopefully the fans will realise we are only in the second year of a five-year plan. The first year was fantastic but we are not going to chuck everything into year two, not a chance.

“There’s a serious amount of money being spent in this league and a number of clubs have been able to strengthen in ways we can’t afford to. If we can get 61 points it’ll be a good year for us and if we reach that before the end of the season, we’ll look to see what else we might be able to achieve.”