Wed 05 Jul - Posted in News
Ikechi Anya is convinced that Derby County’s players will reap the rewards of their pre-season programme further down the line during the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Derby’s players are currently in Tenerife for a week-long pre-season training camp as part of their preparations for the new season, taking in daily double sessions in the Canary Islands heat.
Gary Rowett’s side reported back for duty last week and are taking in their first full week of pre-season ahead of the new campaign.
Derby will kick-off the season with a trip to recently-relegated Sunderland on Friday 4th August, but Anya feels it is important to take a long-term view when grinding through the demanding pre-season schedule.
The Scotland international wideman, 29, feels the Rams will see the benefits of their workload when the business-end of the season approaches in 2018.
He told RamsTV: “It’s nice to be back after seven weeks off and around the lads and training.
“It’s all money in the bank so to speak for the start of the season.
“It’s not just about being ready for the start of the season though, the stuff we are doing now can benefit us when things are decided at the business end when we get to the last few games.
“I believe every session, every double session, is geared towards us being successful and hopefully getting promotion come next May.”
He added: “I consider it a privilege to be here so I don’t look at it as being a tough period. It’s nice when people care about you and clearly Derby County supporters wants us to be the best we can be for the club.
“We’ll use that time to get in shape and I am sure we will be a hundred per cent ready and the 11 that are picked will give it their best go.”
Manager Gary Rowett is overseeing his first pre-season in charge following his appointment in March.
Anya says everyone in the squad is aware of what the 43-year-old demands from his players.
He also feels that there’s already a competitiveness to succeed within Derby’s ranks in the lead-up to the new campaign.
“The manager wouldn’t have it any other way than hard work,” he said.
“We know how he wants the team to play and work; it was good that we had him come in towards the end of last season so he could learn about us.
“We know he doesn’t have time for any slackers and that mentality is good, because anyone who isn’t prepared to work for the team will fall by the wayside.
“I think it pushes everybody on and adds a competitiveness to succeed.”
He added: “I personally can’t wait for the season to start and getting back into the challenges of playing every Saturday and Tuesday.
“The Championship is a difficult league but hopefully this year can be the one for us. There are a lot of teams that feel they deserve to be in the Premier League and we have to put the work in to show we want to be there.”
