Hard graft for Latics

IT is “so far, so good” from the Athletic players who are getting stuck in to manager Lee Johnson’s tough new pre-season training programme.

There is less than a month to go now until the opening day of the 2014-15 Sky Bet League One season, when Athletic travel to Colchester United.

The team play their second friendly fixture at Tameside neighbours Curzon Ashton tonight (7.30pm), and preparations are progressing well for the near fully-fit squad.

Boss Johnson, who among other changes to the training schedule has introduced double sessions over the past week-and-a-half, said: “We have been roughing the lads up a bit since they returned for pre-season.

“It’s been tough on the legs and it’s certainly not been easy for some of them, but you find out a lot about players’ character in these kind of situations.

“We’re driving them on, and although it is tough, they’ve shown that they’re buying into it.

“I believe we’re doing the right thing and up to now it’s a case of so far, so good.

“There’s been no major shift in the programme, but for instance we’ve introduced hydration tests in the mornings, questionnaires and more sports therapy.

“I’m sure we’ll see the benefits in due course.”

Athletic’s newly-appointed club skipper Adam Lockwood has felt the pain since returning from his summer break, but he isn’t offering any complaints as the new season draws ever closer.

He added: “Training has been tough since we returned for pre-season, but everyone looks to be in good shape.

“Thankfully the management and the club have put themselves in a position to offer new structures and procedures which are clearly having an effect.

“It is down to us players to put in the hard work, but we’ve got the use of much better facilities now and so far everyone seems to be responding.

“A lot of thought clearly went in to the training schedule. In fact I don’t think the players appreciate just how much went on behind the scenes.

“The club put in a lot of research into various techniques, and now the lads are enjoying it, and definitely embracing it.

“We want to be in the best shape possible come the opening day of the season, but while saying that, we can’t be peaking too early.

“There’s a long-term plan in place, but for now it’s just about being able to hit the ground running when it comes to the Colchester game.”