TAMIKA MKANDAWIRE has declared himself fit for Saturday's League One opener against Hereford United after coming through 90 minutes at Stevenage Borough on Saturday.

The O's defender has endured a disrupted pre-season due to a long-standing groin injury, but having proved his fitness at Broadhall Way, he is ready to face his former club.

"Before last Saturday, I had only played 45 minutes against Tottenham, so I needed the 90 minutes under my belt against Stevenage," he said.

"I feel good now - I've been training since that game and I'm ready for the start of the season now.

"Psychologically, you need to have put in a 90-minute shift during pre-season, just to know you can get through it. My groin feels fine and I can't wait to start back again."

"Having played for Hereford for three years, this was obviously one of the first fixtures I looked for, so I had a little chuckle to myself when I found out it was the first game.

"I'm looking forward to it and I've been speaking to a couple of their lads this week, trying to get a bit of info out of them - but they haven't been giving anything away!

"Quite a few of the players I was with at Hereford left when I left, but I still know some of the lads so it'll be interesting to play against them."

Read the full interview with Tam in your bumper 84-page issue of E10 this Saturday, on sale for just £3.