Veteran defender Fabian Wilnis says Town's early start to pre-season appears to be having a positive effect. The Blues returned to Playford Road two weeks earlier than ever before on June 12th.

Wilnis told the club site: "I probably moaned about coming back early louder than everyone else, but I have seen the advantages of it.

"We normally have two weeks of intense work, but this year it has been a gradual ease back into things, although the lads have worked very hard this week, with army training at Wattisham and then a running session on a treadmill at Essex University.

"My fitness levels were tested at the university and my record was better than when we did the same tests last year, so the work we have done so far is obviously having an impact."

Wilnis has had a slight groin injury and has missed one or two sessions, but trained with Sylvain Legwinski this morning and neither the Dutchman nor the Frenchman felt any ill effects.

The Town players now have nine days off before they spend a week at Loughborough University.

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