Assistant manager Tommy Wright has spent a lot of time on a watching brief on the training ground over the first three days of pre-season as he’s taken the opportunity to cast a critical eye over the first team squad as they’ve been put through their paces in what have been unbelievably hot conditions.
With every player visibly putting everything into it, despite the intense heat, he said: “I think everybody repeats the same story every pre-season about how it used to be years ago when players would come back, having put a few pounds on, and they’d then take quite a bit of time to get fit again.
“It’s much more professional these days. Their body fat and weight is usually fine and this group have come back looking good, athletic and sharp.
“They’re enjoying themselves and, believe it or not, the weather has helped with that. The lads won’t agree with that statement while they’re doing the running, and other bits and pieces, but they’ll certainly enjoy it while they’re going through their football drills and sessions.”
“It’s good to see the smiles on faces because it means they’re getting back into it and looking forward to what is to come,” he added. “I’m a big believer that pre-season is about being ready for the start of the season and that’s what the work we’re doing now is structured for.
“It’s about doing things right mentally and physically. I’ve been in situations before where everything has been fantastic in pre-season and then we’ve had a bad start. I’ve also had it the other way around, where we’ve come to the end of pre-season without getting a positive result, but we’ve gone on a winning run which has lasted for weeks.
“As long as we stick to doing what we know works, and what we know is right, we’ll be giving ourselves the best opportunity of getting the results we all want once the season does get under way.”
