New Town coach Steve McCall says that the early start to pre-season training is helping to build fitness slowly and will help any players who pick up injuries keep at the fitness levels as their team-mates. However, as yet no-one has picked up a problem.

McCall, who says he is finding his return to coaching physically demanding, told the club site: "We have started our pre-season a bit earlier than many clubs but that allows us to build up the fitness levels gradually.

"Having that extra time means that we do not have to rush through things and it also means that if one or two players pick up slight injuries, they have the time to recover and get back to the same level as the rest of the squad.

"But we haven't come across that situation yet anyway because all the lads are training well and free of injury. Some of them could probably go out and play a full 90 minutes tomorrow to be honest."

McCall adds that the squad seem determined to put right the failure of last season and get the club back in the Premiership.

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