Coventry City Players Return Fighting Fit

Last updated : 04 July 2011 By Covsupport News Service/RD

Coventry City manager Andy Thorn has praised his players for returning to pre season training in excellent shape after their summer break.

The players were put through a series of fitness check after being weighed on their return to the Ryton training facility last Friday and all of them passed with flying colours.

The players were weighed and fat tested before undergoing a series of gruelling bleep tests over two days prior to their trip to Portugal. However they will be put through a more rigorous and punishing training schedule while at the Vale de Lobo training camp. 

Thorn said to the CT: “The lads reported back on Friday and got stuck into it straight away doing their tests and we had the footballs out from the start.” 

The 22 man squad included both of the new goalkeepers, Joe Murphy and Chris Dun, both of whom received a very warm welcome from their new team mates.

Thorn said: “The keepers are good lads, very hard working lads  and have settled straight into it with the others who have come back in really good shape. They have all stuck to their fitness programmes and you can see they are itching to get back into things and carry on the new season where we left off."

"There is a real togetherness in the group and that’s really good to see. You could see it in the boys when they were doing their fitness tests, everyone wanting to do their best and all encouraging each other."

“When they did the bleep test there was a group of them that all stuck together to the end. It was great to see the likes of Gary Deegan come back flying because after the year he had last season he’s desperate to do well, but all the lads have got that desire to kick on and the atmosphere has been really lively."

"When we ended the session on Saturday they seemed surprised because I think they were expecting to do more, and were ready to do more. So hopefully that is a good sign ahead of our week away and the whole season ahead."

“I outlined our expectations for the season and everybody was very bright and bubbly. We have a complete programme worked out and we are planning ahead for a whole season, not just for the first game.”