Alex MacDonald knows a thing or two about a Steve Evans team and says the success he has had at Stevenage should come as no surprise.

The 33-year-old has played with the Scot at both Mansfield Town and Gillingham and had no hesitation about linking up with him again at the Lamex.

And the midfielder says the sense of familiarity fills him with plenty of optimism.

"It's just like coming back to what you know," he said.  

"I know the way they play. I know the style of play. I know how the training ground works. I know how they like me to be in the changing room too.

"You can tell there's a real chemistry and a real bond in the in the changing room and I'm just looking to slide in nicely and hopefully add to it. 

"The first couple of days was getting to know everyone and settling in and as I've done that, now I think I'll start to show my personality a little bit more.

"It's been quite an easy settling-in period to be honest."

Another thing that hasn't been a surprise has been the summer transfer business, with plenty of experience joining the Warrington-born man in coming through the door.

MacDonald said: "I've watched them do this at previous clubs, so when we're linked with certain players or when we bring certain players into the building, it doesn't surprise me. 

"I think if anyone sits across from Steve and has a conversation about football, they'll be very surprised about his knowledge and his education on football. 

"And not only that, he's a very good person as well and so if you put that with good football knowledge and the training facility, you’ve got really good chance of getting the signatures."

A lot of those new faces have played in League One many times already, or even higher, and MacDonald can see them giving others headaches.

"We’ll be a typical Steve Evans team," he said. "Hard working, playing on the front foot, playing forward, running forward. 

"And when that's done with a little bit of quality, that causes problems for any team at any level. 

"We'll be trying our utmost this year to make sure that we continue what good form they were in last year and with the addition of a few players and a few bits of quality at the top end of the pitch, I'm sure will be just fine."

And while a lot of the talk from neutrals is of the quality of League Two, the Scottish youth international is excited about the challenge facing them in League One.

He said: "I think League Two is probably going to be as strong as it's ever been this year with the clubs that have been promoted and relegated. There are some big clubs in that league already. 

"But then you look at the League One fixture list and you look at the teams that are involved and I think any footballer in League One or Two will look at those clubs and think it's going to be nothing but exciting. 

"We're no different here but we're certainly not here to make the numbers up. 

"We're here to compete and hopefully have a successful season."