Pre-season training got under way at Playford Road earlier this week with the Blues' six new signings among those involved.

The first-team squad were in for the first time on Saturday for testing with training proper subsequently getting up and running.

Usually the first day of pre-season training sees the media make their way to Playford Road to take photos and speak to the manager of the day, however, due to Covid restrictions no one from outside the club is currently permitted at the training ground.

As reported last week, manager Paul Cook has exiled a number of last season's regulars to the U23s so has only a small group training with him at present, including the six new additions: forward Wes Burns, midfielders Lee Evans and Rekeem Harper, striker Macauley Bonne, goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky and left-back Matt Penney.

TWTD revealed on Saturday that forward Armando Dobra had been promoted to the senior group having initially been included in the U23s and the Albania U21 international is among those pictured in the photos supplied to the media by the club, albeit obscured behind Evans.

Photos: ITFC

wkj added 17:30 - Jul 1 I can't slate Cook for his drive for fitness. Pretty a huge issue the last few seasons, with players starting strong and fading by the end. Fitness has been questionable.
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Suffolkboy added 17:39 - Jul 1 Passing interest in only - has someone failed to comment and introduce any significant detail ? Looks like a space filler ! COYB
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hoppy added 17:47 - Jul 1 Is he saying 'huge' or is he saying 'moobs' with them all having their bra's on?
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Cadiar added 17:51 - Jul 1 PC could do with getting a bit of weight off.
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Tractorboy1985 added 18:10 - Jul 1 We already look more of a professional outfit under the new regime! Roll on August 7th! COYB
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Kickingblock added 18:57 - Jul 1 Where did the explative go?
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ArnieM added 21:34 - Jul 1 Nice combination of endurance, interval running, core stability, resistance work and integrated skills work when they're getting tired . Nice . Our Cookie boy knows what he's doing 👍 ….. can't wAit for the ko!!!
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BonchosBicycle added 22:36 - Jul 1 The "new" focus on fitness is something that was one of the better things Hurst wanted to focus on. I'm not sure why it's not just obvious - fitter players can last longer in games, play more often, and avoid injuries. Hoping we really follow through on it this time and watch us run rings around teams in the last 15 minutes of every game.
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paris_mitchell_in_oz added 22:46 - Jul 1 Cadiar, methinks that you could probably do with getting some kind of meaningful life.
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trncbluearmy added 10:27 - Jul 2 There was film of them still going at 7pm yesterday evening Bit of a culture change going on
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Monkey_Blue added 11:26 - Jul 2 It's got to be a balance. We have had great stats in games through the Mick years and even Lambert to an extent. However training hard does increase the chances of injuries and fatigue. Hoping the new fitness guys know what they are doing. Football is far more physically demanding than ever and will power doesn't stop a hamstring going etc. I don't know what Bristol City's injury situation has been…. If it wasn't bad their season looks even worse.

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heathen66 added 13:38 - Jul 2 BonchosBicycle You are 100% correct wrt fitness and something Hurst highlighted as soon as he got here However as we have seen, there were so many players here at the club all sitting in their cosy little comfort zone not wanting any change or even the chance to better themselves. Hopefully with this attitude now gone and players signed with ambition we should see an improvement all round. Hopefully one of the new signings will be a real leader on the pitch. I believe the real missing links from the signings so far is Sonny Bradley from Luton. IMO he is everything we have been lacking and would have driven this club back into the Championship of that I have no doubt. Hopefully we are still looking to address this void !!!

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