BEING part of a small squad is a new experience for Tranmere’s summer signing John Welsh – and one he hopes will work to his advantage.

Throughout a career that began with hometown team Liverpool and then took him to Hull City, midfielder Welsh can count on having an abundance of teammates surrounding him. He is used to be one of a big crowd.

Welsh said: “I’ve not been in such a small squad of players before and I think that can be a positive thing.”

At Anfield, the number of professionals on the books was so high and the standard so daunting, that the young prospect from Wavertree could make only five Premier League appearances in five seasons – even though he established himself as an England under-21 international during that period.

After moving to Hull in 2005, initially on loan and then on a permanent basis, Welsh found himself in a squad of around 30 professionals.

After a bright first season at the KC Stadium in which Welsh played 32 Championship games, a double fracture of the right leg checked his progress. Then the numbers game worked against him.

Hull had enough players on the books to release the recovering Welsh to loan spells to Chester City in January 2008 and Carlisle United and Bury last season.

As a result, Welsh can claim the distinction of playing in all four English divisions as well as the European Champions League in a professional career spanning just 64 games. So when the 25-year-old arrived at Prenton Park as a free agent, following his release from Hull this summer, he was less than brokenhearted to find squad numbers would be kept low this season.

Welsh is one of just 16 professionals on permanent contract to Tranmere with the start of the League One campaign little more than a fortnight away.

Manager John Barnes has indicated that further reinforcements will be players signed on loan.

Welsh said: “I think having a small squad can be good for building spirit. The players are going to be competing for positions but we will be supporting each other as well. Everyone will be pulling their weight because we won’t have numbers to spare.

“Even though the squad is small, there is a lot of quality. The gaffer has some good players here.”