IAN Rowe says he would gladly run through a pane of glass - if it meant Gornal Athletic could win a trophy.

The Peacocks begin the West Midlands Premier campaign this Saturday shouldering perhaps the biggest expectations of all the borough’s sides following their excellent second placed finish last term.

Boss Rowe is refusing to set any targets for the season and believes Gornal’s achievements last time round, when they also reached the final of the JW Hunt Cup, make them a target for other teams.

But his desire to win remains undiminished.

He added: “I have stressed to the lads we are now in a position to be beaten because of what we did last year.

“Last year Gornal were Gornal but this year we are the team that finished second and everyone wants to beat you - that’s just something we have to accept.

“I don’t want to make any predictions I just want to have a good season.

“I’m not going to make any big statements then look like the biggest idiot on the street if things don’t come off.

“As always I’d love to win something and that won’t change. I’d run through a pane of glass if it meant we could win a trophy.”

Preparations for their tricky opening day clash at Black Country Rangers have not been helped by a rash of injuries during pre-season.

Rowe is sweating on scan results for Mark Willetts and Andy Dicken, who have both damaged knee ligaments, while Jake Morgan is out with a broken foot and Conor Gater has glandular fever.

Rowe said: “It’s little unforseen things at the minute, we have a few issues but that’s the way it goes. We will still be ready for the kick-off.

“It’s not an easy game by any means at Black Country Rangers. Everyone is an unknown quantity at this stage.”