'˜Buzzing' for the Championship so much, Rotherham United star got back to work early

Manager Paul Warne is a stickler for fitness and has prepared a tough regime for when his players officially return on Monday to prepare them for their return to the Championship.

Warne is relishing the prospect of testing his players physically and mentally with the Austrian hill runs awaiting the players on their pre-season tour.

Winger Newell cut his summer break short to get some vital preparation in the legs alongside a handful of other players earlier this week. And he said: “It doesn’t feel too long ago to be honest but because we’ve been promoted you’re buzzing to get started again.

“You know how good the season can be that’s coming up. It might have been different if we’d lost in the final but it feels good to be coming back. We had a very long season last season and we all worked very hard.

“I’ve had a really good four or five weeks off on my holidays and stuff which was well-deserved but as soon as the fixture list came out the other week and you get thinking about all of the games we’re going to play this year it gets you excited to get back.”

Meanwhile, the Millers have already sold 6,000 season tickets for their return to the second tier.

Supporters have been buzzing for the new campaign ever since Warne masterminded the club’s return to the Championship via the League One play-off final at Wembley last month.

Sales are already up from last season with over six weeks still to go until the new season starts with tickets going on general sale yesterday morning.

The first game at the AESSEAL New York Stadium sees the Millers host familiar foe Paul Hurst, the former Shrewsbury boss, with new club Ipswich Town coming to South Yorkshire on Saturday August 11.

A club statement read: “Rotherham United would like to thank it’s supporters for their continued backing and we are looking forward to welcoming you back to AESSEAL New York Stadium for the 2018/19 campaign.”