Pre-season training has long been a dreaded prospect for most footballers, but Liverpool’s hard-working No.7, James Milner, thinks otherwise.
With the Reds’ UEFA Champions League play-offs looming large on the horizon, Milner is already considering the importance of a strong start to pre-season.
“The off season is always a funny one – you enjoy yourself and relax but you’ve always got one eye on pre-season and making sure you’re right and ready to go again,” Milner was quoted as saying by the club website.
“Obviously it’s a big start to the season for us.”
Liverpool secured fourth place in the Premier League with the final-day win over Middlesbrough but a ticket into the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition remains a two-legged play-off away.
That crucial tie will come in August but the preparations towards it, and of course the new Premier League campaign, are set to begin in earnest during the opening week of July.
Liverpool's Mr Dependable, Milner missed just two games last season and while he is enjoying the calm, he is also looking forward to a ‘tough’ pre-season.
“Pre-season is always tough, nobody particularly enjoys it. But with the tours and the [Champions League] qualifier we want to hit the ground running and start the season well. So it’s important you’re ready to go,” Milner added.