It's that time of the year, when memories of summer in Dubai, or Vegas or Mykonos fade away ... and the dreaded return to the training fields becomes a reality.
Norwich City players have returned to Colney this week, the first job being the tests which determine what sort of physical nick they are in – and whether they have spent their few weeks off guzzling Retsina or taking care of themselves.
It is a path well-trodden by players over the years. City fans – and players – of a certain vintage will never forget the Ron Saunders era where the disciplinarian put his players through their paces by running them up and down Mousehold Heath.
'Pre-season, the amount of work was amazing,' said Dave Stringer in volume two of Mick Dennis' Tales from the City. 'For example we would probably do 100 exercises on our legs only, going around the outside of the pitch. We would jump over sticks while carrying weights, that sort of thing.'
It may be different in 2018 – but it will still be tough.
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