In preparation for the new season, Lee Bowyer and his team travelled to Spain to take part in some warm weather training to ensure that they are fit for their League curtain raiser against Blackburn in August...
New signing, Macauley Bonne, took the time to speak to Valley Pass about what has been going on in Pre-Season training and how he has been finding it.
"[Im] Tired! That’s the least I can say. It’s been a hard day but it’s something you’ve got to do when you’re a footballer to come out to these hot countries and work hard to get where you want to be come the start of the season.
I am feeling the step up because I was playing Non-League [with Leyton Orient] for the last two seasons and Colchester United before that. I was always in and around the first team as a younger boy and yeah, Pre-Season with Leyton Orient was tough but I have felt the jump up from Non-League to The Championship."
I scorching hot weather the boys have been put through their paces to prepare them for what will be a tough season in the league above. Despite the struggles, Macauley heaped praise on his new teammates.
"On the run there, when I had nothing left in the tank, you find stuff because people are pushing you on...
...There’s a real togetherness. It helps me coming where I’ve come from, I’m going to need people helping me along the way because I’m not going to be the perfect player, I’m not going to be the fittest player."
And it's not been just his fellow players egging him on, Bonne was also full of praise for Lee Bowyer and the staff.
"The gaffer and all the staff around me are just helping me along and it’s really nice...
...there’s been a real team spirit around the place, everyone’s buzzing. It was the right club to come to coming from a team with such high spirits, I’ve come here and matched it almost."
Although it will be a testing week for the boys, Bonne is aware of the potential rewards a tough season can bring...
"You look back on it after they won promotion last season and the Pre-Season in Portugal for [the team] was a blur. All that hard work has been worth it now in helping them to get where they want to go to and I’m happy to do the hard work to get where I want to go to which is to play in The Championship."
Macauley Bonne's full interview is available on Valley Pass. Valley Pass costs just £6.50 per month and you can sign-up here
