Akinfenwa lightening his load

Northampton ace Adebayo Akinfenwa insists Aidy Boothroyd's training regime has helped him feel sharper and more energetic.

The burly striker has always been renowned for his build but says Boothroyd's methods, which were not specifically aimed at him, have helped shed a stone-and-a-half. "The gaffer's got me running now because he wants to play a style that is more about running and movement," Akinfenwa told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo. "I wasn't playing so I had to work harder, because I wasn't playing on a Saturday I had to do extra work so it wasn't a case of doing anything different, it was just doing more of it." The Nigerian striker has scored in his previous two matches and hopes he can continue to shed weight but keep his scoring touch at the same time. "I've been doing extra sessions on the bike, I enjoy the rower, I don't really do the treadmill but it's been all about the bike and the rower," Akinfenwa added. "I lost weight as a result of that. It wasn't a question of doing it specifically to lose weight because I've always scored goals whatever size I've been. "I feel stronger and fitter for it and that can only better my game. I've continued scoring as well so it's a good look."