Dean Cox is looking forward to facing his old club – as part of a pre-season to try and enjoy.

The Crawley forward is getting used to life under new boss Harry Kewell.

That process continues when Reds host Albion in a friendly today.

But he also has an extra spring in his step when he thinks back to the last couple of years, which have had their fair share of ups and downs.

Cox returned from a cruciate injury only to be offloaded by previous club Leyton Orient.

He played for Burgess Hill to keep fit before making his Crawley debut in January.

But he admitted he was never really at his best for Reds last term.

He told The Argus: “I felt worse for the time I had not playing. I wasn’t sharp.

“I found it hard even though I was doing my running and a lot of work with the fitness staff at Crawley. There is no substitute for playing games.

“I was glad to get some games at Burgess Hill but, with all due respect, the speed of the game wasn’t the same.

“But I kept playing and I actually felt nice and fit as the season was just finishing.

“I played left wing-back a couple of times last season but I don’t see that happening again!

“I played on the left wing or behind the striker and I think those are my two positions now, out wide or as a No.10. I just want to play.”

That is why he has been keen to keep a smile on his face - even when Kewell ordered a double session on Wednesday, the day after a friendly at Dulwich Hamlet.

He said: “It’s going all right. The manager has ideas which the boys are looking to take on board in the pre-season games.

“It has been hard – but everyone works hard in pre-season. No one likes running but it is important to get going.”

Cox was a favourite for Seagulls fans back in the Withdean era and the Mid Sussex boy will enjoy facing them.

He said: “It will be a good test. I hardly know anyone there except for Lewis Dunk, who was just coming through, and Glenn Murray.

“Other than that it is a completely new team but I’m looking forward to it.

“That’s where I first started and came through the ranks.

“And I’ll see (kitman) Ken Barnard, who is still there. I’m looking forward to that.”

Cox will not be a stranger to the Amex in the coming season, assuming the fixture lists allow it.

He is one of scores of Albion players who did their thing at Withdean in the ultimately unfulfilled belief that one day they might be around to play at the new arena.

But he said: “It’s great to see them in the Premier League. I will be down there any chance I get.

“I think once they got those two things - the stadium and the training ground – up and running it was all ready to happen. They nearly made it and then they smashed it last year.”

Reds tailed off alarmingly last term, leading to the exit of head coach Dermot Drummy. Kewell is an unknown quantity in first-team management but his team are aiming high.

Cox added: “Hopefully we can hit the ground running.

“Get as many wins as we can by Christmas and take it from there.

“The aim for us this season is the play-offs. That would be nice.

“We didn’t finish last season great so we have got to turn that around.

“We need to be in the top half of the table for sure.”