Striker Dougie Freedman contemplated quitting the game if injury had struck again over the summer.

Freedman scored the Blues only goal in their 1-0 pre-season win at Chelmsford City on Saturday tapping in from close range.

And then the experienced forward admitted he contemplated hanging up his boots after a season of injury turmoil last term.

"If I had broken down again during the summer then I would have given up," admitted Freedman.

"I said to myself at the end of last season that if I was going to carry on then I would need to work really hard during the summer and that's what I've done.

"I gave myself a couple of days off and, while the rest of the lads headed off to the beach, I was working hard.

"I've been concentrating on strength work and stretching and I'm feeling good again but if I had got injured then I would have just retired."

Having shrugged off his injured problems Freedman is now United's top scorer in pre-season.

Along with his goal at Chelmsford he has also netted against Witham Town and Canvey Island in the past fortnight.

But despite his form he is not getting carried away.

"It doesn't really matter at this stage," he said.

"If I hadn't have been scoring then I wouldn't be too concerned and I'm not getting carried away just because I have been.

"The most pleasing thing for me is that the chances are being created and that is a positive sign for me and the rest of the team."

With the start of the new season just weeks away Freedman hopes he can carry on his goalscoring form.

However, he feels United will have to work hard to compete in a tough looking League One.

"We need to be realistic and I don't think we are going to win the league," said Dougie.

"We have a small squad but we do have some quality in it and I think we can figure in the top half.

"If the manager can add one or two players like he did last season then hopefully we can push on from there and be pushing to get into the play-offs via the back door."