BOSTON UNITED are on the verge of tying up a deal to keep popular striker Mikel Suarez at York Street.

But midfielder Gareth Davies must prove his fitness before winning a new contract after undergoing two operations this summer.

Target man Suarez struck 10 goals to help the Pilgrims to promotion last season and was rewarded with the offer of a fresh one-year deal.

While the rest of his team-mates have already signed up for next season's Blue Square Bet North campaign, the Bilbao-born forward has been forced to wait until his future off the pitch has been ironed out.

"The only issue with Mikel was that he's getting a new job and he didn't know where he was going to be based," explained United joint-boss Paul Hurst.

"If he got a job in the south, it wouldn't financially viable for him to stay with us.

"But we think he's got a job sorted out not too far away, so we're hopeful he'll sign. Everything is agreed in principle."

Suarez could sign today when the Pilgrims begin pre-season training.

The striker should be joined in training by Davies, who has undergone both hernia and knee operations during the summer.

Hurst insists the former Gainsborough Trinity midfielder will be given every chance to win a new deal.

"After the two operations he's had, we need to see how he is," he added.

"But there's no timescale and I don't expect there to be any problems with Gareth. I'm confident he'll be with us next season."

Boston's superior fitness was key to their UniBond League Premier Division promotion-winning campaign.

And Hurst believes his side could have the legs on their Blue Square Bet North rivals too.

"We're planning to get together three times a week before the season starts," he added.

"That could incorporate a game once we get into the pre-season matches.

"But I don't think many other sides will be taking the fitness side of things as seriously.

"As far as I know, only Stalybridge are doing the same, so we should be one of the fittest sides in the league again.

"The players should come back in the right shape.

"They deserved a holiday of course, but they've been given fitness programmes and we expect them to have been stuck to. The competition for places starts now. We'll be doing mostly running early on, but we'll be looking for people to go that extra yard and show us that they're in good shape."

United's first friendly will be at home to non-league new boys Grimsby Town on Friday, July 16 (7.45pm).