BURTON Albion boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink admits that it’s hard work for his team at this time of the season.
“The players do suffer at this time of the year. There is a lot of hard work to be done in pre-season.
“In the first few weeks it’s all about fitness. The players work very hard but they need to and it will make a difference one we start the season. Then when we get that fitness we can start working on the football side of things, the detail.
“That’s what it’s about really, getting ready for that first game.
“So it’s very difficult but also exciting times for the club as we get set to play at a higher level of football. It’s exciting for the supporters, the players, everyone connected with the club as we have never been in League 1 before.
“It will be a big challenge but we are looking forward to it. We want to be ready and we want to be competitive.
“Even the pre-season matches are about the fitness and getting back into that process.
"We need to get back to the standards we were at last season.
"We need to get the work into the players as much as we can.
"It's an important process and an important time in the season.
“We have taken the first team squad to Holland to help prepare for the season and play a friendly, which will help the squad to bond and help us be even better prepared.
“A lot of clubs go to Spain but I wanted to make sure we went somewhere similar to England in terms of climate. Then it does not feel so much like a holiday which it can do if you go somewhere hot.
“This is an important time and we need to prepare well. Then we will be well placed when the real business starts.”