Connell Rawlinson believes Notts County are a "different animal" this season following their excellent start to the National League season.
The 31-year-old returned for the Magpies in their 2-0 win over Aldershot as a substitute for Richard Brindley, before returning to the starting XI for Notts' fixtures against Dorking Wanderers and York City, playing two full 90 minutes after his long injury lay-off.
Having returned to action sooner than expected due to injuries to Aden Baldwin, Geraldo Bajrami and Brindley, the defender has looked as though he has never been away, putting in a commanding performance that got Notts back to winning ways at the LNER Community Stadium at the weekend.
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Having just returned to training over a month ago, Rawlinson explained the intensity of training implemented by Luke Williams since his arrival has been a key contributor to the Magpies' start to the campaign.
"The training intensity is through the roof this season," explained Rawlinson.
"We look and feel like a different animal compared to previous years, we work really intense on a Tuesday and Wednesday when we have not got a game to the point you will be working like it is a match on a Saturday or a Tuesday.
"I think it is down to the application from the lads and buying into what the gaffer has brought into the club, that no one will work harder than us if we want to go on and achieve what we want to achieve this season.
"It starts on the training pitch and in the classroom watching the footage. It's always been a bare minimum for me to come into training and give everything, every day.
"On a day-to-day basis, it is nothing more than giving 100% in training and anything less is not good enough."
After missing the opening seven games of the season through injury, Rawlinson was welcomed back into the matchday squad against Aldershot, playing 35 minutes in a comfortable win at Meadow Lane.
And whilst the defender is delighted to be back in the first-team fold, he admitted that his recovery from injury challenged his mental strength, but those long hours in the gym have got him feeling back to his best ahead of a gruelling National League fixture list.
"It has brilliant being back involved, I am not going to sit here and lie to you, if you ask any professional footballer the worst thing about being one, it is being injured.
"It is a very lonely and dark place at times, and you are in the gym on your own with no windows, and you feel a little bit segregated from the group at times but it's all about your mental ability to get your head down and work hard day in, day out.
"It's a little bit like Groundhog Day, it is the same stuff every day, but it is stuff that is going to get you back as quick as possible.
"I worked exceptionally hard when I was injured so I knew that when I came back, I would be able to step in and play my part.
"Obviously it came around a bit quicker than we first thought with injuries to Richard Brindley, Aden Baldwin and Geraldo Bajrami, it's one of them ones but sometimes you have to get chucked in at the deep end and go from there.
"I feel like I have got myself to a point where I am match fit and on Saturday against York, I felt back to my best physically."
