Former Town striker Lucas Akins reckons 2016/17 is going to be a “magnificent” season for Burton Albion.

The newly-promoted Brewers are on the crest of a wave having won promotion to the Championship and Akins is enjoying the ride, having been leading scorer for the last two seasons and just signing a new two-year deal.

Akins will have to wait until December 13 to play at his hometown John Smith’s Stadium again, but he’s looking forward the the campaign and not simply surviving with the Pirelli Stadium outfit.

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“It’s going to be a magnificent season. There’s no pressure on us. We can go out and enjoy every game,” said the 27-year-old who made six senior appearances for Town.

“I suppose every team is expecting to go out there and beat little old Burton, but we will put up a great fight again and surprise people, like we have done the last few years.”

Akins feels they will do better than most pundits suggest.

“I wouldn’t like to limit ourselves to anything just yet,” he explained.

“You have to go out there and deal with what’s in front of you.

“Like last year, the aim might have been the same initially – to stay in there – but we were quietly confident that we could do better.

“When you are used to winning, it’s hard to expect anything else, so we will look forward to surprising a few people.

“We can’t get carried away, we must take each game as it comes, each training session and look forward to the adventure going forward.”

Akins is closing in on 50 goals for his career, so what are the personal targets driving him on?

“First and foremost, it might sound like cliché, but I’m just looking to work hard and be available for selection if called upon – and then do a job for the team,” he commented.

“The Championship is a higher level, one I have never played at, but hopefully one I can push myself in and hopefully adapt pretty fast.

“As a squad, we are going to have to do that amongst the players who haven’t got Championship experience, so I will look to learn as much as I can and the end result will be on a Saturday with goals and, hopefully, creating them as well.”