DONCASTER Rovers may be making a later start to pre-season training than a number of Championship clubs, but they will be as prepared as anyone come August 9 claims No 2 Richard O'Kelly.
"As a result of us getting into the play-off final the players have only been away for five weeks and your body needs that time and more to recover after," said O'Kelly.
"But they will report back a week today and they'll hit the ground running.
"Footballers don't get unfit and put on a couple of stone during pre-season as used to be the case.
"Apart from those who were booked in for surgery, all the players were given a programme to follow after a couple of weeks' break and they will have been working on that and ticking over.
"Some will have kept fit by playing tennis, or going for a run, while others will have kept up with a weight programme.
"Whatever they have been doing they will all report back at a certain level of fitness because that is the way it is these days.
"They have all got targets that they need to meet regarding their body fat and cardio-vascular endurance which will be tested in the bleep tests. But I would imagine that they would all achieve those."
One player who should have few problems proving his fitness early next week is Scottish midfielder Martin Woods. The former Millers' favourite has been working out at the training ground during the summer break.
"Martin didn't play an awful lot of games last season but his attitude was always first class," said O'Kelly.
"It doesn't surprise me that he has been down at the training ground on occasions because he is one of those people who likes to keep fit."
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 344 words and appears in Doncaster Star newspaper.
