Fitness coach Andy Liddell expects the Town squad to return to Playford Road in good condition ahead of their 2014/15 pre-season programme. The players are due back at the club on Thursday and Friday for tests with pre-season training starting in earnest on Monday.
Liddell gave each member of the squad a fitness plan to follow during the summer, while some, such as Tyrone Mings and Frank Nouble, who are currently on a course run by Michael Johnson Performance at St George’s Park, have put in additional work.
"The programme is tailored to the individual but basically it’s two weeks’ rest, then building up exercise through the rest of the break,” Liddell explained to the club site.
"Some will do it, some will do their own thing but the players are a good group and I’ll know they will come back fit.
"They will do bleep tests at the end of this week. Last season when we tested them, they ran right through it. The gaffer asked me if we could get the balls out straight away and I said ‘yeah, look at the test results’.
Good days hard work learning from the boss but all worth it, back now to prep for pre season 👊 @mjp360 @MJGold pic.twitter.com/LfqGoCNCbk– Tyrone Mings (@tyronemings1) June 25, 2014
"They came back as fit as I have ever seen any team and that is testament to the players, the manager and TC.
"When you look at the stats last year, we were one of the top three teams in the Championship fitness-wise.
"The manager and TC demand high standards from the players and Ipswich Town run for 90 minutes and beyond, in training and in games.”
The Town squad will be spending a week training at the Carton House hotel in Ireland's County Kildare prior to playing their first friendly against Shelbourne at Tolka Park, Dublin on Saturday 12th July. Details of Town’s other pre-season games can be found here.
Meanwhile, Charlton have confirmed that defender Michael Morrison, who was linked with the Blues last week, has signed a new two-year deal at the Valley.