Gareth Evans has promised to fill the attacking void left by City’s untimely injuries.

Last season’s top scorer James Hanson is touch and go for the opening day of the new campaign at Shrewsbury a week on Saturday.

Winger Leon Osborne is another casualty from the recent Essex tour while Omar Daley is suspended.

It means the expectation will fall on Evans and new signing Jake Speight to deliver if Peter Taylor’s side are to make the fast start that the bookies are predicting.

But it is familiar ground for Evans, who has looked particularly sharp in the friendlies.

He carried the attack effectively in Hanson’s absence at the end of last term, scoring three times in City’s six-match unbeaten finish.

So he is confident of doing the same job if needed when the proper action begins again.

Evans said: “Unfortunately James took that knock on his ankle ligaments on Friday so he’s maybe going to miss the first one or two games.

“You just need to try and keep as many people fit as we can. At the moment there seems to be players going down all the time.

“There probably will be an onus on the likes of Speighty and me and whoever else is fit. But that’s fine. I had that last year when James was out and scored a few goals then.

"I’m more than happy to have that added responsibility. It’s nothing new to me.”

Evans scored 11 times in his first year at Valley Parade but Taylor wants to see more end product with his finishing. He warmed up to the challenge by netting twice in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Chelmsford City.

Evans added: “As a striker you are always looking to score goals, whether it’s in a pre-season friendly or a league match.

“It definitely breeds confidence and I hope that filters into the start of the season now.”

After the hectic run of southern games, City have a free week before the weekend trip to newly-promoted Rochdale for their biggest test of the friendlies.

Evans said: “Pre-season is never easy. You’re always going to be worked hard so it’s nothing new to the lads.

“But you can see a light at the end of the tunnel now. The first game is not far away so we’re all getting a bit more excited and geed up.”