Shrewsbury Town Manager Paul Hurst is delighted by how well Town’s warm weather training camp has gone so far.
The squad have been in Portugal since Sunday and have undergone of mix of sessions both out on the grass and in the gym.
Paul admits that it has been hard work for the players, but is pleased with the outcome.
“I think the players would say it has been hard work, but hopefully enjoyable as well”, Paul told ShrewsWeb.
“I’ve read a lot about trips and bonding and that is an important part, but trust me there has been a lot of hard work.
“The players have had a little bit of time to themselves between sessions, but the majority have taken to their beds, so maybe that’s an indication of how they’ve found the training in the heat.
“But, that will be beneficial and it’s certainly not be a case of cutting down training or not training because of the weather, so for me it’s been very worthwhile and I’m looking forward to the game now.”
Many of the Town players have expressed how tough training has been over the last few days, but Paul won’t be apologising as he looks to produce one of the fittest sides in League One.
“I think the players have found it tough and we make no excuses for that.
“Ultimately, it’s to benefit them individually, but most importantly as a group. I want us to be one of the fittest teams in league and I’m not ashamed to say that at all.
“Myself and Chris believe in fitness and I know Skitty’s along the same sort of thinking as well, so hopefully this hard work to begin with will benefit us in the long run.”
Temperatures on the Algarve this week have reached in excess of 30 degrees at times, but Paul was quick to point out how well the players have been looked after.
“The programme was designed with a thought of the best times to train.
“At seven-thirty in the morning it’s quite pleasant and we do a quick run to get warm and get the metabolism working before breakfast.
“The next session starts at nine-thirty and runs for a couple of hours and then they have lunch and then it depends on what they are doing in the afternoon.
“It it’s a gym session then it’s a four-thirty start or if it’s football then it’s a six o’clock start and you are hoping it’s cooling down, although that hasn’t always been the case.
“It is very warm, but not so hot that they can’t do their work and no one’s been in any danger of heat exhaustion or things like that, there’s plenty of hydration during sessions, so they are being looked after and there’s no complaints.”