Jordan Roberts says both he and Stevenage are in a positive place ahead of the start of the League One season - thanks to improved fitness.

Promotion last year was built on a solid work ethic but because the level of opponents has increased, so too has the effort put in at training and in games.

The 29-year-old forward said: "Physically, I'd say I probably feel better this year, maybe because I've just fine tuned my off-season, done it a little bit differently this year. 

"The main thing for me was getting fit because we’ve moved up a league now and we’ll be playing against better players and more physical players. 

"Our fitness has to be even better than last year and I feel in a positive place. 

"Coming into the start of the pre-season I felt really good. The body feels good and I've come in with my head high and come off the back of a good season last year. 

"But we've got to put that to the back of our minds. It’s a new group but with the same DNA and the same intentions. 

"Everyone's raring to go. Pre-season has gone quite quickly to be fair but it's a fresh group, a mature group and there is a lot of energy in there. 

"It's looking good."

That extra fitness was on show in Boro's last pre-season game, a 4-0 win over a young Tottenham team on Saturday.

And while Roberts was not on the score-sheet, he was a constant thorn in the side of the Spurs defence and goalkeeper Aaron Maguire with a relentless press.

That is part of the game he thoroughly enjoys and wants to get even better at.

He said: "I had a word with the staff this week and they said to just go back to the drawing board.

"There's been a few games where I’ve come off it a little bit and my game is working hard and causing trouble for defenders. 

"I've spoken to [Carl Piergianni] many times and the thing defenders hate is people closing them down and making them rush their decision.  

"For me, I'm going to carry on working hard and doing what I do and hopefully get on the score sheet more often this year.  

"But the team is the most important thing and to start well is [key]. Hopefully we do that next week."

Stevenage start the new season away to Northampton Town on Saturday.