CHARLIE Martin is gearing up for a massive year after revealing he has trained with a bodybuilding champion to bulk up for the new season.

The former Castleford prospect has joined Cougars on a permanent basis ahead of the new campaign after previously playing for the club on dual registration in 2013.

The centre or back-rower produced a man-of-the-match display in Cougars’ opening friendly win against Oldham on January 10 and is set to feature in tonight’s visit from Halifax.

Martin scored a try in a fine 80-minute display in the centres against Oldham and said he was in the shape of his life.

The 23-year-old has been training with British bodybuilding champion Azeez Salu, who is a friend of Martin’s from Wakefield.

Martin, who ended last season at Hunslet, said: “I’ve been doing my extras in the gym and I’ve gone into pre-season flying.

“This has probably been the best pre-season I’ve had and I’m feeling fitter, stronger and faster than ever.

“I’ve got nothing to hold me back, no niggles, and I’m really positive right now.

“Azeez is a friend of mine from Wakefield who I’ve known for a few years.

“He’s a British bodybuilding champion and I’ve done a few sessions with him recently.

“He’s helped me to put some size on and improve my strength.

“Our training methods in rugby league are completely different and it has been good to train with him.

“I’m looking forward to being on fire from the off now when the season starts and hopefully we can go to earn that promotion spot.

“I can’t look far into the future at the moment and am just focused on doing well for Keighley and helping the club to win promotion.”

Martin, who is sponsored by Own Strength Clothing, is ostensibly a back-rower but took plenty of plaudits for his performance in the centres against Oldham earlier this month.

The Wakefield lad, who featured six times for Keighley during his dual-registration stint from Castleford, added: “It was great to get off to a winning start against Oldham because even though it was only a friendly, it builds confidence in the team.

“It was a really good game and I enjoyed it.

“It’s early days yet but while I am a predominantly a back-rower, I’d like to think I can play centre and do well there too.

“There are still things I need to work on in my game and Marchy has done video with me and showed my areas for improvement.

“It’s early days in terms of where I will be playing, but hopefully I can get to that point where I can play in the back row and centre, giving Marchy an extra option.

“Oldham are a good team who pipped Keighley in last year’s final, so we obviously owed them one from last season.

“You could say it should have been us in the Championship now, but that’s gone now and we’ve trained really hard during pre-season and I think it showed against Oldham. Winning promotion is our main aim, without doubt.”