Kristian Dennis reckons Carlisle United’s superior fitness will be a major asset this campaign.

The striker believes the gruelling work undertaken during pre-season will make them one of the fitness sides in League Two.

And Dennis believes that will help the Blues’ go the distance against fourth-tier rivals.

“I don’t think you’ll find a fitter team in the league than us this season, with the amount of running we’ve done – it’s been brutal at times,” he said.

“But if you get through it, it only benefits us.

“Fitness is a massive part of football these days. Come the last 10-15 [minutes of games], we should be strong and hopefully get the results; just take teams into the darker times of the last 10-15 and steamroll them hopefully, and get results through that.”

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Dennis scored his latest pre-season goal to clinch the 3-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

The experienced frontman capped a strong Blues display which was a tribute to their hard slog over recent weeks.

Manager Paul Simpson’s attention to detail has extended to making players do extra running if they did not reach certain targets during games.

Dennis, speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, added: “That started at Penrith; me and Gibbo [Jordan Gibson] didn’t hit certain high-speed running, so after the game at Penrith we were on the pitch on our own, sprinting across the pitch.

“It’s been constant but we’re feeling the benefits. Fingers crossed we’ll carry that into the season.”

Dennis felt United’s plan worked well against Bolton on Saturday as he, Ryan Edmondson and Ben Barclay scored to give Simpson’s side an eyecatching win.

It came two weeks before the big League Two kick-off against Crawley Town.

The 32-year-old striker said: “We knew they were going to have more of the ball – we just had to know when to go and when not to go.

“We left a centre-half on it and me and Edmo tried to close him in. Then, as soon as he passed it, we’d go from there.

“It worked a few times, we caught them a few, and luckily we scored the third from that too.”

Dennis enjoyed his strike pairing with in-form summer signing Edmondson.

The former Leeds United man hit the opener, and Dennis said: “The key is communication, as long as everyone’s speaking.

“Me and Edmo are speaking, and we both got a goal. That’s what you need from strikers.

“Keep talking. As long as you’re talking to each other it makes it easier for yourselves.”

Dennis admitted he should have scored another goal from debutant Fin Back’s cross.

But he said United’s ability to create such chances is encouraging.

“We’re strong and fit, that will get us chances in itself,” he said.

“Luckily we’ve got the quality on the wings and in the middle, and hopefully they’ll create them on July 30 [against Crawley].”

Dennis says United must not get carried away by their latest showing as they build up to the League Two curtain-raiser.

“You’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt, the result,” he added.

“Bolton could have an off day, we had a good day.

“All that maters is July 30. Fingers crossed we take it into that and get a good result.”

Dennis, who is with the United squad on a training camp in Largs this week, said Simpson’s management makes every player clear about the standards expected.

“I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him,” said the frontman.

“Fingers crossed we just get the results for him and he’ll be good for us.”