“I can’t wait to get going.”

That was the message from new Barnet captain Micah Hyde this week.

Barnet boss Ian Hendon announced after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Southend United in a friendly on Tuesday night that Hyde would be his captain for the season.

It is a role the Jamaican international is well used to, having been made skipper at all of his previous clubs: Cambridge United, Watford, Peterborough United and Burnley.

Hyde said: “As captain of the team I want to help push the club forward. I also have to set an example both on and off the pitch.”

Having only arrived at Barnet earlier this month, Hyde is still settling into life at Underhill, but revealed he was impressed with what he has seen to date.

“I’m extremely pleased with what I’ve seen at the club so far, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the quality in the squad. We’ve got quite a young squad but all the young lads are hungry and eager to learn.”

That hunger will first be put to the test on Saturday, August 8, when the Bees kick off their League Two campaign at Lincoln City. Hyde admits it is not the easiest opener for Hendon’s men, but is determined that the Bees should get the season off to a good start.

“It’ll be a tough test, especially because it’s away from home. But we’ve just got to go up there, play our game and make sure we start the season with three points. Then we can move on from there.”

A string of positive signings over the summer have led to a quiet confidence emerging around Underhill, but it is, as a result of last season, tempered by a wariness of raising expectations too high.

Likewise, Hyde is reluctant to make concrete predictions about where the Bees will finish, but is 'extremely optimistic' and confident of a top-half finish at the very least.

“I guarantee we’ll be competing in the top half of the table,” he said. “Come Christmas time, we’ll assess where we are and if we’re not in the top half, then I’ll be disappointed. If we are, then we’ll push on and see where we end up at the end of the season."

Hyde’s experience – he has made over 500 Football League appearances and played 16 times for Jamaica - will no doubt be crucial to Barnet’s success this season and, if pre-season is anything to go by, the Underhill faithful have good reason to be optimistic.

As Hyde puts it: “We’ve shown in pre-season that we’re competition for anyone."

BENJAMIN KENTISH