Tooting & Mitcham midfielder Aaron Goode has ended speculation over his future by putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Terrors for the forthcoming campaign.

The 21-year-old has put the effects of a bout of pneumonia behind him to return to Imperial Fields this summer as part of a new look squad, that will now also include former Met Police midfielder James Evans.

There had been fears Goode - a former QPR trainee - would be another a victim of the sweeping changes at the Ryman League Premier Division club under the new boss.

But Beard insists his illness was the main reason for his delayed return to pre-season training and expects him to be fully involved within the next fortnight.

“Things were a little bit up in the air about Aaron and I wasn’t 100 per cent certain he’d be back with us,” he said.

“I’m delighted he has committed himself to us for this season.

“He had pneumonia at the start of the summer break and I think he lost something like three stone in weight.

“He has put a lot of that back on but he needs to get his strength up and probably won’t feature in out first friendly against Staines Town this weekend.”

Pre-season will give Beard the chance to run the rule of a new-look 4-3-3 formation that he hopes can bring the best out of his new signings, including Evans.

The Terrors will entertain League One Bournemouth next Friday as part of the deal that took Mitchell Nelson to the Cherries in May, and Beard reckons now is the time to experiment.

“We will be tinkering with a 4-3-3 formation that becomes 4-5-1 when we are defending,” he added.

“It suits the players I’ve brought in. We’ve signed players with that system in mind. If we had flying wingers I’d be going 4-4-2, but we simply don’t have them.

“With James coming in we are going to have such a strong midfield it seems the best way to go.

“I’m not too bothered with results at this stage. It is important we gel as quickly as possible.

“Everyone will get minutes to start with, but as we get closer to the start of the season I’ll nail down the starting eleven and work specifically with those players then.”