New signing Lee Trundle believes his grounding in non-league football will help make his shock move to Chester FC a success.

The 36-year-old former Swansea City and Wrexham striker has spent most of his high-profile career playing in the Football League.

But it is his time at the likes of Chorley and Stalybridge Celtic, when he was first starting out on the road to stardom, that makes the former £1m man confident he can hit the ground running at the Blues.

Trundle said: “This is nothing new to me. I’ve played in these divisions so it’s not as though as I’m a player who’s dropping down the leagues who has never encountered anything like this before.

“This is where I started off. I know it’s not easy, it’s a good standard, and it’s something that I’m relishing.”

Chester manager Neil Young moved for Trundle on Monday after his contract with Preston North End was cancelled by mutual consent.

Some Blues fans have questioned Young’s decision considering Trundle made only two appearances for the League One outfit after sustaining a knee injury in pre-season.

But lean-looking Trundle – scorer of more than 100 Football League goals and the subject of a £1m transfer from Swansea to Bristol City in 2007 – has been given the all clear by the Preston physiotherapy team.

“I’m feeling fit and it’s just about getting that match fitness back,” said Trundle, who is on non-contract terms until the end of the campaign.

“The plan is to get on the pitch, get some minutes under my belt, get some goals, and hopefully come the end of the season we’ll be celebrating another league title.”

Trundle made his Blues debut in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Workington.

The second-half substitute looked sharp, having a strong penalty appeal turned down and firing a deflected effort just past the post.

Now he is hoping to make his home bow in Saturday’s derby clash with Vauxhall Motors at the Exacta Stadium (3pm).

“The result didn’t go our way but at least we didn’t get beat on what was a bad pitch,” said Trundle.

“It will be nice to get into training with the lads and I’m looking forward to a home game on Saturday and a nicer pitch on which we can play our football.”

Trundle met his team-mates for the first time on the coach up to Workington.

Having opened up a 16-point lead at the top of the Blue Square Bet North, he has admiration for what they have achieved so far this season.

Trundle said: “The lads have done a great job getting themselves in the position they are in now.

“But everybody involved with the club knows the hard part is still ahead. It’s about keeping hold of that lead.

“From what I’ve seen from the lads I’m pretty confident we can do that.”

Young is delighted to have signed a player of Trundle’s ‘experience and ability’.

He added: “Lee coming here is not about money – it’s about football.

“We’ve got him on what effectively we had left to pay for Michael Powell so it’s been done within the current budget.

“I think we’ve managed to pull off a bit of a coup to get Lee in and I’m sure he can have a big part to play.”