Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has dipped into the training schedule of Olympic triple gold medallist Usain Bolt to ensure Ipswich fans are going to see the very best of him in the coming season.

His first campaign as a Town player following his move from Arsenal in July last year was a mix of some highs together with frustration, disappointment and inconsistency.

There were several explosive strikes and a number of Man of the Match performances, but just as many occasions when he seemed off the pace and was substituted long before the 90 minutes had expired.

But the 21-year-old expects to make a far greater impact in the new campaign after summer visits to a running school in Chiswick, West London, where the fastest man in the world has also taken advantage of the facilities on offer.

That preceded a full pre-season programme with Ipswich and Emmanuel-Thomas said: “This is the first pre-season I would describe as hard and I’m the fittest I have ever been in my career so far. Coming into it, based on what I was like last year, I expected to die. But I managed to survive and complete all the runs, apart from just one I think.

“The running school was great for me. I worked on my running technique. I did shot bursts, between eight and 16 seconds repetitively, and I feel it has benefited me quite a lot.

“They stuck me on a treadmill that was going at 38 kilometres an hour. Usain Bolt had been tested on it as well. They’ve had triathletes there as well as people who were running for Team GB at the Olympics. Some other footballers had also been there so I thought it would be good for me.

“It was all about coming back in decent shape. The reason I went to the running school was to keep my fitness up and make sure I came back a lot better than I was when I signed last year.

“Before we broke up in May the club gave me a choice to go and visit the school and see whether I liked it or not. It seemed like it was decent so I decided to give it a go because I felt it should benefit me and it certainly has.

“Over the course of last season it was all determined by how fit I was and how leggy I got during games. The manager has to base the team on players who are 100 per cent fit and obviously over the course of this season I shouldn’t be in the state I was last year. I should be flying, ready to go.”

Photo: Action Images

Goody22 added 12:15 - Aug 17 I believe with JET's upbringing under Wenger at Arsenal, his pace, technique and skill, he should be by far our best player. Unfortunately, we have not seen this enough yet on a consistent basis, hopefully as he says, this season will be different. COYB
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ipswich61 added 12:18 - Aug 17 JET i will be flying this season, lol is he going on holiday
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bluey123 added 12:19 - Aug 17 utter cr-p Wenger got rid of him because hes useless 30 mins per match at best a cdouple of shots and he is gods gift utter rubbish Thomas & JEWELL OUT
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cartman1972 added 12:22 - Aug 17 bluey123 i think the term recognised in the trade that best describes yourself is end of bell or something like that. Complete dross comment and you obviously are looking forward with confidence to the new season.
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Ipswich_Loyal added 12:27 - Aug 17 blue123, you really are an idiot.
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alztar added 12:27 - Aug 17 38 mph on a running machine? Is that possible?
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bruce88 added 12:27 - Aug 17 bluey123 What are you on !? Behave, disappear and leave your dross comments in your own miserable head ! COYB. Team Jet !
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tontony added 12:29 - Aug 17 BLUEY123 OUT!
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Wallingford_Boy added 12:30 - Aug 17 38mph.... LOL I think he has he facts a bit muddled!
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Mark added 12:31 - Aug 17 It all sounds very positive, and similar to Chopra in that he sounds at his physical best which could make a big difference to his game this season. I think Emmanuel-Thomas could be a key player for us this season, as his potential is huge.
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buryblue77 added 12:33 - Aug 17 Alztar, I was wondering that, also it it possible for a human to run 38mph? I would say it's more like 38kph.
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tontony added 12:42 - Aug 17 JET for team GB in Rio 2016! He'd piss all over Bolt at 38 mph!
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sereneblue added 12:47 - Aug 17 Bluey 123 Get back in your budgie cage !!!!!
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ThatMuhrenCross added 12:51 - Aug 17 Usain Bolt wins the 100m at 37kph. I doubt JET will ever run at 38mph (61kph).
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hollywoodginge added 12:59 - Aug 17 It does say Kmp!?! Iv been really impressed by players attitudes during this pre season and willingness to go above and beyond, hopefully this will show during the season, looking forward to this one with our current squad, hopefully the welcome new additions, which I believe we are going the right way about our transfer dealings, will be here soon.
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Guthrum added 13:03 - Aug 17 JET is still only 21, just three full seasons as a senior player, not the finished article yet. There's still time and room for him to develop as a footballer.
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Kentish_Tractor added 13:21 - Aug 17 I went to the open training session last week. The fitness coach had the players doing box-to-box runs, and JET always finished last or thereabouts (just about kept pace with Delaney) - with Lee Martin looking head and shoulders fitter than the others. I know it's hard for a person of his height to be lightning quick (Bolt the exception), but I don't know whether JET is actually that slow, still unfit, or just lazy? This being a criticism, let's see if I can get to 20 disagrees, as all criticisms seem to get.

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ThatMuhrenCross added 13:24 - Aug 17 OK, it did say mph before though!
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bluey123 added 13:26 - Aug 17 You will all see this season Thomas IS Cr-P Jewell IS Cr-P
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buryblue77 added 13:30 - Aug 17 Phil, a little typo on the speed there? We were all thinking that JET would be running at Newmarket tonight!
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SWBlue86 added 13:59 - Aug 17 JET has pace over 10 yards not the length of a football pitch. IMO he will be our best player this season. - COYB
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NITFC added 14:02 - Aug 17 ...and Bluey123 is cr*p
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Kentish_Tractor added 14:07 - Aug 17 Don't feed the troll (Bluey123).
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brian_a_mul added 14:11 - Aug 17 Fair play to JET for knuckleing down and working hard!! Less Twitter + more training = better player!
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ipswich61 added 14:45 - Aug 17 JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT
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