Moments after signing a two-year contract with Cambridge United [article], Jon Challinor spoke to cambridgeunited.com about himself and his reasons for making a £15,000 move from Rushden & Diamonds.

"The move came about quite quickly after I spoke to Garry Hill and he said he would pass my name around at the start of this week," he revealed. "I was speaking to Cambridge before I went to Rushden last year and Cambridge is ideal for me location-wise, so I'm absolutely delighted that they came in for me so quickly and we've been able to get something sorted out."

Gary Brabin told us that he plans to use Jon mainly in midfield, although he can play up front or 'in the hole', and the 27-year-old confirmed that he feels most effective in an attacking midfield role.

"I'm happy playing anywhere around the box," he said. "Last season I played in numerous positions for Rushden - centre mid, left mid, right mid, up front, in the hole - so I've got that versatility, but centre mid is where I'm looking to play and push on and help the attackers and score a few goals.

"But equally I can sit in there and do the nasty stuff with whoever is alongside me - if I'm selected," he added. "People can't really pigeon hole me in one position but I like to play centre mid and the Gaffer here is giving me the opportunity to do that."

Towards the end of last season Jon was pushed up front as a striker and scored in four consecutive games, and he explained, "I spoke to Garry Hill last year about trying to get the best out of me and he put me up front and I think I scored seven in five games, so there's that option as well if needed.

"He asked me to play a more defensive role last year and it didn't really work out, then he put me up front and it came good."

Jon knows Cambridge from a spell with Cambridge City earlier in his career, and he is looking forward to trying to help the club go one better than last season and earn promotion back into the Football League.

"Coming from Peterborough, I know the area and I know a lot about Cambridge United and I came here on trial when I was 16 so I know this is a big club.

"I just can't wait to get started and see where we go - we've got to be looking at getting promoted."

"I don't want to put pressure on the Gaffer," he smiles with a glance at the listening Brabin, "but after getting to the play-offs last season and the play-off final I think we've got to be pushing on from there, and that's certainly what I'm looking for."

Challinor has been allocated squad number 10.

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