Akinola, who joined the Bees from Braintree Town in January, is keen to build on a promising first six months at the club.

And the 24-year-old has no doubt that playing alongside the likes of top scorer Akinde can only help to increase his own goal return in the new campaign.

“If nothing else, you learn the mentality that he has,” Akinola told barnetfc.com. “I think there’s a certain mentality all good goalscorers have and John is certainly among those.

“To be getting 20-plus goals in each of the last few seasons is definitely an achievement and training with him, you see the hunger and desire to score goals, to get in the box.

“It gets to a point where being in the right place at the right time is no longer an accident – it’s savvy and I guess experience as well. It’s about learning off him and trying to improve every day.

“As a forward you always want to be on the scoresheet and coming in from the wing you want to be getting double figures – that’d be my target.”

Along with the rest of the Barnet first-team squad, Akinola returned to training this week – a contrast with his previous pre-season campaigns at Boreham Wood, Harrow Borough and Braintree.

“It’s not just my first taste of pre-season at Barnet but also my first official pre-season at professional level,” added Akinola.

“The fact that you have these facilities full-time helps a lot because you can do a double session and you’re in every day – that certainly helps with your fitness.

“Looking back at my last pre-season, we were only in twice a week and I’m sure that affects the level of fitness that one has to keep throughout the season. So I’m looking forward to working hard and getting fitter.

“I want to consolidate myself as a league player and a Barnet starter and help the team do well – those are the things I’m aiming for.”