STANLEY cult hero Rommy Boco has signed a new one-year deal with the club after literally putting his body on the line for the Reds last season.

The Benin international, 31, needed two jaw operations after being caught in the face by the arm of AFC Wimbledon captain Barry Fuller during the second leg of the League Two play-off semi-final in May.

Stanley lost 3-2 on aggregate, and Boco revealed he nearly lost his teeth following the clash for which Fuller received a yellow card.

But the midfielder, who's in his third spell with Stanley, is back on board for another season and wants to be at full fitness for the big kick-off next month.

He said: “I found last season hard as I left India in June and signed here in February and was straight into playing six or seven games in three weeks.

“It was really tough for me as I hadn’t played for a while and my fitness was not right.

"I wasn’t at my best but now I have a full pre-season under my belt so this season should be ideal for me.”

Of the injury, he said: “Basically, my bottom row of teeth came off my gums and I had to have two jaw operations – one at Blackburn Royal Hospital and one in France – so I missed my summer holidays and spent time recovering.

"However, I am OK now. I won’t need to wear any face protection.”

Boco says last season's play-off disappointment will spur the team on and is targetting being quick out of the blocks.

"Hopefully we can have a good start to the season and put ourselves into a good position early on," he said.

"We know we could have finished second last season and been promoted, but we can’t do anything about that now and have to put it right this season.

"Players have left – that’s what happens when clubs like Accrington do well – but we have signed some good players and we want to go one better than last season."