The Athletic have released an intriguing new piece on the state of the current squad a few weeks in to pre-season training.
According to Chris Waugh, a source close to the club has revealed why the first fortnight of training has been “extremely encouraging” for Eddie Howe, not only because there is a real sense of “positivity” in the camp, but mainly due to the impressive fitness levels being shown within the group.
This is a hugely promising sign heading into the new season, with The Athletic revealing that the players have returned in ‘excellent physical condition’ after being given an off-season training regime to follow back in May.
This is a stark contrast to what we saw 12 months ago, with Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser both admitting over the past year that we were not fit enough heading into the previous campaign – highlighting one of many key differences between Eddie Howe and Steve Bruce.
Just looking at the training photos released by the club, it’s clear that the players are in great shape, with Jonjo Shelvey looking as lean as we’ve ever seen him, with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin also spotted doing hill sprints on holiday last month.
The mood in the camp also seems brilliant, with team building exercises combined with high intensity training appearing to be the perfect blend to improve fitness levels and togetherness within the group.
I could get used to seeing this new version of Newcastle United – a previously neglected club that’s now full of positivity and professionalism!
