Jim Smith believes Oxford United will be better equipped, physically, this season to handle the demands of the Blue Square Premier.

The U's boss, starting his second full season since returning to the club with chairman Nick Merry, immediately identified that the midfield needed strengthening, and he has done that.

And what was at times a problem left side last year - with the ageing Gavin Johnson and Rufus Brevett, and Andy Burgess, all suffering with injuries at different times, could this time be United's strongest point following the captures of Alex Jeannin and Phil Trainer.

Smith said: "The new boys have settled in well and all the lads have worked hard in pre-season."

Not enough goals proved United's downfall in 2006-7 as champions Dagenham ended up finding the net 27 times more than Oxford.

So, with the arrival of Gary Twigg and Joel Ledgister, have the U's got more goals in them this season?

"Well, we probably scored more goals in pre-season last year than we have this year, but I think we've probably got more options to change the team format in providing options," he said.

"On the bench will be predominantly front players, so that will help us to get more goals."

Smith added: "I think the squad is younger, and stronger. With people like Eddie Hutchinson, it's virtually like having a new player.

"He's got back, got through a tremendous amount of work in pre-season and should really push on and be a key player for us, giving us that extra strength in midfield, like Phil Trainer, who's another strong boy.

"Phil's got to find his feet as yet as it's his first time up into full-time training since he was a kid really. That's hard, but again he's done well and I can only see him getting better as the season goes on."

One team that does look to have plenty of goals in them is Stevenage Borough, with their three talented England National Game XI players, Mitchell Cole, Steve Morison and Mark Molesley.

But United found last season that Stevenage's defence wasn't as effective.

Who does Jim reckon will be up near the top this time?

He said: "Speaking to David Pleat the other day - and I know pre-season you can't always judge teams - but he saw Stevenage recently and he said whoever finishes above Stevenage will win it. But then we said that last year and they had an unbelievably bad start."

Smith believes it's unlikely that a team will run away with it this time.

"Whereas last year we thought there were only four serious contenders, five maximum, I think this year there will be seven to eight . . . Kidderminster, Torquay, Stevenage, Exeter and hopefully us will all be up there.

"York maybe - but not so much because they have serious financial constraints, although Billy (McEwan) does a great job there, and they've got a lot of new players.

"So I think it will be a lot harder than last year. Having said that, in a daft kind of way, that gives everyone more of a chance because they're all beating one another.

"I know Morecambe went up in the end through the play-offs, but really two teams ran away with it in the league. I don't think that will happen again though."

By the end of the season, Smith will have chalked up more than 1,500 senior games as a club manager at Football League and Premiership level, and also now in non-League, which includes his time at Boston United - his first managerial job.

Jim has been here, been there, been everywhere and seen it all.

But one thing that will take some getting used to are the frequent Thursday night games in the Blue Square League this season.

So no more Thursday nights off then.

"I don't get Sundays off either," said the Bald Eagle.

"I'd better ask for more money!

"It's a seven-day week, and my wife's not very happy about it!"