Jack Harrison couldn’t be happier to be back in training with Leeds United and preparing for the new Premier League season, it seems. Leeds only secured their top flight survival at Brentford last month, but they’re already back at Thorp Arch, preparing for the new season and the road ahead, with the Whites’ opening fixture scheduled for August 6 against Wolves.
The squad have had a ball at their feet during the opening few days and while they have been undergoing fitness testing, they have also been able to get out on to the field and work through some drills. Training will intensify over the coming weeks, with Leeds set to travel to Australia at the end of next week in order to continue their preparations, but Harrison has provided an insight into what the first couple of days have been like at Thorp Arch.
“It’s only been two days but the first was the usual, testing and seeing where everyone was at again,” he told Leeds’ official site. “Today was more of just getting back into the rhythm of things, working on the technical side of things and then we had a tournament at the end, just to have some good feelings throughout the team. It’s been good.
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“We’ve had our fair share of (running) in the past. It’s always nice to get the ball out again and just get kicking a ball. I’m always kicking a ball, even in the summer I love playing, for some of the others who take time off completely it’s always nice to get on the pitch, with the nice grass and the new balls, it’s a good feeling.
“A lot of players are doing more training throughout the summer just to stay fit and stay on top of their game and come back the next season stronger, it’s becoming more popular that players do that and I know some of the younger lads have done it here as well. It’s nice to see. It shows the level of football is always growing and you have to try new things to get ahead of the curve.”
United won’t have long in training before they take to the field for the first of their five pre-season friendlies. Leeds travel to York next Thursday to play Championship outfit Blackpool at the LNER Community Stadium, before they take on Brisbane Roar, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Italian outfit Cagliari.
Harrison added: “It comes round really quick so physically we have to prepare ourselves and mentally, too, try and get back in the routine and rhythm of things. It’ll be good.”
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