The baking temperatures at the Sheepmount this afternoon didn't deter the United squad as they were challenged with a very tough pre-season training session on their return from their summer break.

The Youth and first teams combined as one group as they went through a series of practices desgined to blow away seven weeks worth of cobwebs ... and they came out of the other side of it covered in a thick film of sweat, but also feeling much better for the experience.

Greg Abbott said: "I was very pleased with the attitude of all of the players today.

"I thought they were terrific. I thought that there was a real buzz and bounce around the place, and that's exactly what I wanted."

"I looked around when I did my team talk," he told us, "and they were all looking me in the eyes. I think that we have got ourselves a determined group of players and I'm really looking forward to watching it all come together."