DAVID Connolly is leading the race to partner Rickie Lambert in attack for Saints’ season curtain raiser against Leeds.

The 34-year-old striker has been in blistering form in pre-season, comfortably outscoring every other Saints striker in netting four of the ten goals Nigel Adkins’ men have managed in their Championship preparations.

Former Republic of Ireland striker Connolly opened his account for the summer with two against Biel-Bienne inside the first 20 minutes of Saints’ opening friendly in Switzerland last month.

He added another in the 45 minutes he played in the Memorial Cup against Werder Bremen and topped it off with another strike against Yeovil last weekend.

Of the other strikers, Lambert, Guly do Prado and Jonathan Forte have netted one each while Lee Barnard, who missed the West Brom and Yeovil friendlies with an ankle problem, has not scored.

The question mark hanging over Connolly since he joined Saints in October 2009 has always been about his fitness with several niggling injuries halting his progress.

However, his quality has never been in doubt and now he appears incredibly fit and sharp and looks ready to line up against Leeds.

After watching his 45- minute display at Yeovil, Adkins commented: “David Connolly looks outstanding at this moment in time.

“What an intelligent football player who works very, very hard.”

Connolly, below, joined Saints after 18 months out of the game follow a serious groin injury.

Having been released by Sunderland he trained at Saints and convinced Alan Pardew he could still do a job.

As a result, he was offered an initial contract until the end of the 2009/10 campaign.

In his first season at Saints the former Republic of Ireland international made ten starts and 11 sub appearances, scoring seven goals.

He earned another oneyear deal and last season came good towards the end of the promotion run, finishing with four goals in eight starts and nine sub appearances.

After agreeing a further one-year deal, the ex- Leicester, West Ham and Wigan man looks better than he has at any time in a Saints shirt.

That is a massive boost for Adkins as his side make the step up to the Championship.

• Saints v Leeds opening day countdown continues: See tomorrow’s Daily Echo.