Hard Work Starts Today For Posh Players

Peterborough United players returned to London Road today for the start of pre-season training.

All the Posh players are scheduled to be at London Road at different times of the day to go through the first fitness check of pre-season. Each player was issued with a fitness/training programme at the end of last season which was designed to keep their fitness levels up with the aim that they return at the right level of fitness and weight to start the hard pre-season schedule.

The first week of pre-season is all about testing fitness levels and small sided games of 3v3, 5v5, 7v7 etc. All the players are in today [Monday] and Tuesday before having Wednesday off. They return on Thursday and Friday before departing for Portugal next Monday.

New recruit Danny Swanson, who signed from Scottish Premier League outfit Dundee United was excited about his first day: "I woke up a couple of times in the night because I was thinking about my first day and whether I would get on with everybody.
I think you are always a bit nervous about meeting people for the first time but it was a good day and I enjoyed it.

"I have been looking forward to the training and getting started ever since I signed for the club so it is a relief to be under way.

"I didn`t really know what to expect from my first day but it was a good eye opener." Swanson continued.

"We did a lot of stretching and fitness tests as well as getting on the treadmill. It was really tough but you would expect that.

"I can`t wait to get to Portugal and that will be a good opportunity to really get to know the lads."

Last seasons skipper Grant McCann was happy with his first day "back at the office" as he tweeted: "Good first day of pre-season. Feeling nice and fit and ready for whatever comes my way".

Although it`s been a very quiet time with the players Posh are looking to move on, they aren`t completely out of Fergies plans as he said: "Never say never" when asked if any of the players could play themselves back into his thoughts just as Lee Frecklington did last season. However, he did also say: "I`ve got a budget but I can`t isolate the players".

Having the week in Portugal early on in pre-season allows all the players and staff to bond further as a group and to introduce the new players. Boss Darren Ferguson believes all the new players will settle in OK as he said: "Got a very good dressing room so the new players will settle in fine."

Fergie is looking forward to the week in Portugal: "It`ll be a good week. I`ll spend a lot of time with the chairman. Bob and Barry will come out later in the week.

"The mornings will be focussed on injury preventions with a maximum 60 metre straight line running.

"We`ll work on one or two other formations but we`ll still play like we did last season."

Although there is less than a week before they all jet off to Portugal, Fergie is still confident that there`ll be more additions before they leave as he confirmed: "Hopeful of getting three more in before we go to Portugal. We`re very, very close."

So, although no news on incoming players have been announced (and it was expected a certain "mystery player" would be announced soon), there are positive sounds coming out of the club which is very good news.

UP THE POSH

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