Barnet manager Martin Allen says he has been pleased with the condition of his players after they – and three new faces – reported back for pre-season this week.

The Bees have secured former Former Leicester City midfielder Ryan Watson, ex-Exeter forward Alex Nicholls on permanent deals for the new season, while Shrewsbury striker Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro will spend pre-season on trial at The Hive with a view to signing a contract at a later date.

Central midfielder Watson made one appearance for the Premier League champions, in the 2014-15 League Cup, and more recently played 15 times for Northampton Town as he helped them on their way to the League 2 title last year.

Nicholls, who can play out wide or up front, scored 12 times in 61 appearances for Exeter after signing from Northampton two years ago, having previously spent several years in League 1 with Walsall.

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Uniquely-named Akpa Akpro, aged 31, first came through the ranks in Ligue 1 with Toulouse before moving to England, and arrives in good form after scoring three goals in the final six games of the season for Shrewsbury prior to his release.

Allen said he was pleased with the club's summer but said there were unlikely to be too many more additions.

He said: "Everyone is coming back in good shape which, nowadays, is what you would expect. Gon are the days where it was two months off in the summer and you go away and get fat.

"I'm pleased to get the players in, we weren't ever going to make too many changes. I'm very pleased to get Ryan Watson done, I saw him at Northampton last season and he's a good player.

"Alex Nicholls has been a name we have known for a long time and he always chips in with goals, and can play up front or on the right.

"Akpo has been training with us for a week now and there is something close, but contracts are up to the chairman and not me. He's a popular lad with a great attitude and he likes it here."

Barnet youngsters Harry Taylor and Nana Kyei were given starts in the final game of last season and the Bees boss said some senior players would be "looking over their shoulders" in the new campaign.

he said: "The young players have come back in excellent shave and have really made the most of their summer. They've worked very hard on their fitness levels and are getting strong mentally.

"That comes from the confidence of being able to compete with the first-team players and some of them will be looking over their shoulders for next season now."

Barnet will begin their pre-season campaign this weekend with a pair of games on Saturday, with the squad split into two. One half will travel to a 1pm kick-off at Cheshunt before another travels toWare at 4pm.