Bryson Says No-One Wants To Be ‘Left Behind’

Craig Bryson admits the summer break is effectively a ‘pre, pre-season’ for Derby County’s players.

Gary Rowett’s squad signed off for the summer at the beginning of May, following a 1-1 final day draw at Rotherham United.

Preparations for the 2017/18 campaign will begin in earnest at the end of June, when the Rams kick-off their pre-season schedule.

Before heading off on their annual summer breaks, Rowett’s players were all provided with individual and tailored fitness programmes by Derby’s medical staff.

Each player must complete a set number of sessions per week and, using technology, record their workload and upload the data via an application on their smartphone for the club to monitor.

Bryson, 30, admits that gone are the days when pre-season was used as an opportunity to get into shape.

However, he hopes retaining a high level of fitness over the summer could play a key part for Derby when the 2017/18 season kicks off – and he says no-one wants to get left behind.

He told RamsTV: “In the modern day now you have to be fit for pre-season, which is a change from when I first started playing.

“Back then, pre-season was the time you used to get yourself fit. It really has moved on in the last few years.

“I think everyone knows by now that we’ve been given off-season programmes to do and, after two weeks off in terms of not having to do anything, it started recently.

“It’s like we are doing a pre, pre-season! There’s no hiding place and we have our own individual things that we have to do over the summer.

“I am not sure what the consequences are if we don’t do what is asked of us, but I can assure you that the manager and his staff wouldn’t be happy about it!

“You don’t want to be left behind in pre-season. As a squad, we want to do well and put this season right so if we can get ahead of other teams by doing this in the off-season, then everyone will do it.”

Before pre-season gets underway, Bryson has the small matter of tying

the knot with his long-term partner Gemma back in Scotland next month.

However, he knows it won’t be too long until pre-season training gets underway ahead of his seventh season with the club.

He said: “I get married in the middle of June and head straight off on my honeymoon.

“Once that ends, we’re back training a few days later!

“The start of pre-season always seems to drag, especially as it is such hard work, but then it flies by once the games start. Before you know it, the season will be here.”