The Glens start the defence of their CIS Insurance Cup against Armagh City at the Oval on Saturday and by that time they will have played two competitive European ties against AIK Solna as well as high profile friendlies with Coventry City, Espanyol and Manchester United.

It's rare for so many big games to be played by Irish League clubs during pre-season and McDonald feels that they have put his team in the best possible shape for the upcoming campaign.

"I've said it so many times during the summer but I could have taken on friendly matches against amateur league clubs and won convincingly and everybody thinks everything's rosy," said McDonald who is entering his first season as a manager having taken over from Paul Millar during the close season.

"I wouldn't have learnt anything about the players, though, and it wouldn't have been good preparation for the season.

"Now, though, we have played very, very big games and I know what the players are capable of. They may have conceded a few goals in the matches but I have seen enough during patches of each game to know that we are in good shape.

"What I am now looking for is consistency from the team. There have been stages in each match where we have played some really good stuff and now I want to see more of that throughout the entire game.

"It has been a learning curve for everyone here - including me - but I really do feel that we are in good shape."

The Glens beat Cliftonville last season to lift the CIS Cup and McDonald is hoping that he will get his hands on silverware himself this season.

"The CIS is the first competition of the season and it is important that we get off to a good start in it," he added. "If we can do well there then that will set us up an all competitions.

"I want us to be pushing for all the trophies that we will be playing for and obviously that starts with the CIS.

"I am pleased with how things have gone over the past few weeks.

"The new players have settled in well and I feel that we have a good young team but with a good mix of experienced players too.

"The team morale is good and confidence is high but it is very early days. What I do feel though is that the future is bright for this club because there are so many terrific young players coming through.

"Phillip Carson has been brillaint since coming into the team and obviously Sean Ward has been around a bit now too but he is still young.

"Ryan Berry, Jamie McGovern and Daryl Fordyce are also talented young players and that is something that I wanted to bring here when I came in as manager."