Partick Thistle back in training for the new season
THE start of the new football season may be some way off but Partick Thistle gaffer Ian McCall has praised his players for starting their pre-season training early.
A number of the squad were in at the Firhill gym on Monday for some fitness training.
McCall said: "I have to commend several players for the commitment they have shown to their pre-season training. We've had to open the club up during the summer such has been the demand from players to make use of the facilities here.
"Not every player is coming in every day by any means but the desire shown by the players, voluntarily I may add, to be in tip top condition ahead of pre-season training is hugely pleasing from a manager's perspective. There's going to be a few in next week and we'll get some work done."
Pre-season training is due to start at the end of the month, but many of the players want to hit the ground running.
McCall added: "Long gone are the days when pre-season training was a way of shedding the extra pounds put on after the summer excesses. Today's players are much more professional in their outlook and are keen to start their pre-season training in tip-top condition."
One of the players at Firhill's gym on Monday this week was goalscoring midfielder Paul Cairney.
The 22-year-old, who missed the last two games of the season because of a Crohn's disease scare, said he was relieved tests have given him the all clear.
He said: "A few of the boys were in on Monday. It was my first time back since my holiday in Turkey and I'm feeling refreshed and ready to get back into training.
"I went to the doctor at the end of last season because I was feeling tired and losing weight, but the doctor gave me the all clear from Crohn's disease which was a major relief."
In the run up to the start of the new season physio Kenny Crichton will be available and working closely with players such as Alan Archibald and Liam Buchanan.
While Archibald will miss the big kick-off, Buchanan will start the new campaign with the benefit of a good, solid pre-season behind him.
The manager added: "Archibald's desire to start the season in the peak of condition is reflected in his work ethic during the summer and hopefully we will all reap the benefits of that when the season gets under way."
The competitive action proper kick-offs with a tie against Clyde in the ALBA Challenge Cup on Saturday, July 24.
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Weather for Milngavie
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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