Blues boss Paul Jewell says his squad were running around as “fresh as daisies” at Friday training despite already having played seven games during the month of March. The Town manager says his players have to impress him in training if they’re going to make his team.
Speaking yesterday lunchtime, Jewell said: "I think they must have read what I said about making changes because they came in this morning and were running around like two-year-olds, fresh as daisies! Really sharp.”
Amongst those impressing him was Jimmy Bullard, recently back from his club suspension for his night out in Newcastle and subsequent lateness: "Jimmy’s doing better. He obviously missed two weeks but he’s coming on. He did well this morning.”
Jewell says good displays in training can gain —or lose- a player a place in the side: "I had a long conversation with Grant Leadbitter yesterday about how important training was.
"I forget which game it was but Luke Hyam had done exceptionally well in matches and then on the Thursday morning Grant was outstanding in training.
"I put him in the team because of his performance in training and he’s been excellent ever since. The players know I put a huge emphasis on what I see on the training pitch.
"Some players have played their way into teams and on the flipside, people have definitely played their way out of teams.”
In the past he has amended his planned starting line-up on that basis: "I’ve changed my mind on the training ground. I’ve gone out with a team in my mind and I’ve changed it when I’ve seen how training’s gone. That’s how vitally important I believe training is.
"Some people are fantastic trainers, some people are more ‘match players’, I understand that, but in the main I believe there are very few players who can turn it on and off like a tap. I think it’s a day-in and day-out thing.”