LUTEL James is in a determined mood - and it is not just for goals.

The Accrington Stanley striker was furious with himself last season after getting sent off twice.

It meant that over the season he missed nine games because of suspension.

"I want to be really disciplined and ignore things that are going on around me," said the 30-year-old former Bury striker.

"I missed nine games last season and I want to make sure I play a lot more this season."

Still, the hitman found the back of the net 25 times in Stanley's treble winning season - but even that disappointed him.

"I would have got more if I hadn't missed all those games," he said after finishing second to 34-goal striker Paul Mullin. "I would have been level with Paul if I had played them all. But we have got a good partnership going.

"Paul works really hard. I have played with some strikers who are big and strong but don't work hard but Paul always gives 100 per cent and it is going well.

"I hope I can get more than 30 goals this season."

The Reds kick off their season tomorrow against Runcorn at the Crown Ground - a tricky start but they need to start well after a dismal opening last time out when they lost four of their opening six games.

"We need a good start," said James. "If you get that then you can start looking forward, the first 10 games are important.

"But we are used to pressure after winning the three trophies last season (the Lancashire Marsden Cup, the UniBond Trophy and the Burton Shield) and really we would have been happy with two out of the three. But we just kept going.

"I don't think they will concern us as much this season though as we have done that now and the real aim is to win the league.

"We really want to go up and that is what John (Coleman) is looking to do.

"We would also like a good run in the FA Cup."

James has the benefit of League experience behind him and an appearance at Old Trafford when he played for Bury on his debut in the Worthington Cup.

But now he has some more former League men with him, with the signing of defenders Mark Sertori and Barry Shuttleworth and midfielder Mike Marsh, an FA Cup winner with Liverpool.

"Mike has his quiet and his loud times," laughed James. "As a player though he is top. He has played at a high level and it shows.

"Some of his passes are sharp and we aren't thinking as quickly as him and not always reacting. But we are learning and I think we can learn a lot off him.

"He is quality, he dominates the middle of the park and he can score some good goals as well. Hopefully it will be even better this season."