At clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, a host of players who haven't featured in the recent flurry of international fixtures are set to start their pre-season on Monday - but what exactly lies ahead for them over the next couple of weeks?
Alex Wynter - who runs his own blog, Fly On The Ball - has undertaken his fair share of gruelling pre-season sessions over the past decade. The 28-year-old defender - who became the second youngest player in Crystal Palace history back in 2010 - is currently preparing to make his bow for Eastbourne Borough in the National League South.
During his years in the game, Wynter has experienced the trials and tribulations of pre-season tenfold, and is currently in the midst of preparing for another tough campaign. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football , Wynter has lifted the lid on some of the secrets of pre-season and some of the additional challenges that could be await some players this summer...
