Winger Ryan Fraser says he has a big season ahead of him having joined the Blues on loan from AFC Bournemouth for the entire campaign as part of the deal which saw Tyrone Mings sign for the Cherries.
Speaking in an interview with the official Bournemouth website, the Scotland U21 international said: "It’s going to be one of the biggest seasons of my career.”
"For my age, I’ve had a few important seasons already but I need to get my head down.
"I need to show everyone what I can do. I need to play as many games as I can and improve little parts of my game.
"I need to get in more goalscoring positions and score more goals. But with playing more games and my confidence getting higher and higher, I’m sure I can do that.”
Fraser is out of contract at Dean Court next summer but talks are under way regarding a new deal with Cherries manager Eddie Howe seeing the 21-year-old’s long-term future at Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Fraser and the rest of the Town squad start pre-season training at Playford Road this morning [Edit: now Tuesday morning, some of squad in for testing today, training proper starts tomorrow].
Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles is also expected to join up with the Blues with the 17-year-old’s loan move on the verge of being formalised.
Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick, Christophe Berra and Kevin Bru have been given extra time off having been involved in international football until well into June.
TWTD will be at Playford Road for the annual first-day photo call with the squad and press conference with manager Mick McCarthy.
Photo: ITFC