New signing John Akinde spoke to the club’s official website for the first time since returning for pre-season on Friday, and is feeling enthusiastic with how preparations have gone so far:

“It’s great. Everybody has made me feel very welcome. All the boys have get on really well so hopefully it continues that way and I’m sure that it will.”

Barnet are already two games into their pre-season campaign, narrowly losing to League One side Peterborough United last weekend before defeating Stevenage of League Two on Tuesday, and the 25-year-old feels that the two performances have given everybody much to feel positive about:

“I feel the team is gelling really well, we’ve played a couple of games now and have performed really well in them so overall everything is looking good.

“From day one the manager has come in and told us how he wants us to play, so we’ve been trying to do that every day in training and we’ve been trying to do it in matches. 

“It’s important that the team gels now so that we can perform better when the season starts and so far it’s looking like we are doing exactly that so hopefully that can continue and we can become very solid as a unit.”

From a personal point of view, the striker also added that he is feeling fresh and ready for the new campaign:

“I feel good. I just want to build up that fitness and get myself ready for the season. Personally, I know pre-season is very important and it is the time where you look to get all your running and fitness and strength in the bank ahead of the new season.”

The former Alfreton forward has started both friendlies alongside new addition Charlie MacDonald, and he admits that he is looking forward to seeing their partnership flourish during the coming campaign:

“I think we’ll work well together and I’m sure that the more games we play the more we will get to know each other and the better we will combine. So far I’ve really enjoyed it. 

“He’s obviously very experienced and I’m trying to learn from him and listen to him. We’ve both just to play our natural game and hopefully those can complement each other and together and we can both score some goals for Barnet.”

Barnet’s preparations for the new season continue on Sunday at The Hive against Luton Town, with Martin Allen already announcing that Akinde will start up front, and the striker is relishing another challenge against Football League opposition.

“I feel we’ve already performed well against two higher teams and Luton will be another tough test on Sunday but I’m sure that if we perform in the same way then we’ll do well and give a good account of ourselves so I’m really looking forward to it.”