Andy Pugh hopes a change to his training routine will help him stay fit for Dartford’s run-in.

Pugh’s two goals against Bath last Saturday showed his class as a finisher and his all-round performance spoke of a player confident in his own body again after a series of injuries.

Darts boss Tony Burman believes keeping Pugh fit could be the key for his team’s chances this season and the 26-year-old is determined to make himself available every week.

Pugh said: "One of my targets, rather than the number of goals, is to stay fit. If I can stay fit, the goals will come so I’ve got to do what I can to look after myself.

"Sometimes I wonder ‘why am I getting these injuries when I’m doing everything I need to?’ I might do too much sometimes, extra stuff after training or on a day off, I might push myself too hard.

"If I’m playing games I’ll be fit anyway so rather than always going for a run, maybe I should leave it, rest and make sure I’m ready to go the next day. Hopefully those decisions will pay
off."

Pugh became a father for the first time in October and life’s good on and off the pitch right now.

"I feel a lot more confident in myself since I’ve come back into the team," he said.

"I’ve always put pressure on myself and last year just didn’t take off.

"I picked up an injury straight away, got back in the team and was playing well but against Welling I picked up that unfortunate injury to my testicle. When I came back I was rushing to get fit and it never really worked out.

"But since the birth of my son, I feel in a good place and I’m enjoying my football again – not thinking too much about it.

"I like the system we’re playing. One of my strengths is my movement and when you play as the lone striker, you know exactly where you’ve got to be."