Mike Fondop wants to be the answer to Oldham Athletic's attacking prayers.

Latics will start the new season on Saturday without strikers James Norwood and Joe Garner, who have both missed pre-season through lengthy injuries.

Last season's top scorer Norwood tore a calf muscle in the second session on the first day back in training, while Garner is recovering from shoulder surgery.

But in their absence, Fondop has led the line in the friendlies in the run-up to Saturday's opener at home to Braintree Town.

And with three goals in his last two games he is determined to build on that momentum when it matters most, and deliver the firepower that Latics need.

"I thank God for my goals and hopefully we can take this positivity into the season," said Fondop, who is looking to improve on last season's 10-goal tally and revealed he is going into the new term feeling fitter than ever.

The Cameroonian puts that down to the toughest pre-season he has experienced, allied with an additional focus on his nutrition and fitness away from the club.

"I thought last pre-season would have been (the hardest) with what we endured with David Unsworth, but this has been five weeks and we've hardly had a day off except Sundays," said Fondop.

"Even on our days off we were asked to do things at home, and you had to prove it, so it's not been having a jolly-up.

"It definitely has been the toughest pre-season for me so far - sessions, running, intensity, but I feel better for it.

"It's the fittest I've ever been. I'm not getting any younger but for some reason I feel my fitness level is a lot better than it was."

And he says that is mirrored throughout the squad.

"On a personal level I feel fitter but on a group level the players look a lot fitter," said the 30-year-old, who signed a new one-year deal in the summer.

"Everyone knows his role now, what they have to do or what they're asked to do on the pitch.

"Hopefully that helps me to improve on my two previous seasons because goals will win games and as a striker you want to score.

"I pray that God helps me and helps this season be the best so far."