“We Are Trying To Get The Maximum Out Of Each Session”

Tom Lawrence is working hard during his first pre-season with Derby County as he looks to hit the ground running when the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship campaign gets underway.

Lawrence missed out on pre-season with the Rams last term after arriving from Leicester City in mid-August.

The 24-year-old arrived later than the majority of the squad this time around after his season was extended by international action with Wales, but now, the forward is pushing himself to the limit.

He told RamsTV: “Me and Joe [Ledley] came back a few days later, so they are easing us in a little bit but it’s still very tough and my legs are feeling it now.

“The staff demand intensity and all of the lads have bought into that, we are taking it on board and we are trying to get the maximum out of each session.

“You’re always trying to impress and show what you’re about, and all of the lads are working hard and putting a shift in.

“It’s good to start pre-season with the lads, I don’t think that I was fit enough when I first joined, but now I’ll be well prepared and match-sharp for the coming season.”

Along with Ledley, Lawrence travelled to the United States to take on World Cup-bound Mexico at the end of May, and he enjoyed a positive time in California.

He said: “It was good, we had a training camp in Los Angeles, and then we played Mexico, which was a good game and a good test for us.

“It was a good experience overall.”

On the subject of international football, Lawrence sat alongside a mostly English group of players and staff to watch the Three Lions take on Colombia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

Understandably, the reaction from the Wales international was muted as Gareth Southgate’s side eventually prevailed on penalties.

“I just kept quiet in the corner! It was a good win for England in the end.”