Derby County midfielder Liam Thompson says the squad are 'raring to go' ahead of the new 2023/24 Sky Bet League One campaign.
The team have just returned from a gruelling week-long training camp in Spain and are now just over a fortnight away from league action getting underway.
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Wednesday night's trip to National League side Chesterfield in their third friendly of the summer, Thompson reflected on the training camp and looked ahead to the remaining pre-season schedule.
On the trip to Spain...
It was good to be out there with the lads and the new lads that have joined us. We got to learn more about them and more about the lads that have been here for years too. It was a brilliant week, a tough week but it brought the lads really close together.
It was the toughest week I've had in football yet, not just physically but mentally. The gaffer has always said it's more mental; we can all do it physically but it's about how much we can do it up there in your head.
On the familiar faces in the group...
I'll never get sick of them, especially the lads like Cash, Sibs and Birdy! I tell them I do, but I don't really. On a serious note, it's nice that the new faces have come in and fit straight into the dressing room because they've shown already they aren't just good players but good people too.
On the mood in the dressing room ahead of the season...
We're excited really and raring to get the season going. We've had two games already in pre-season and you can see the stuff we're trying to implement into our game and we've got another one on Wednesday at Chesterfield. I think the lads are just really excited for what's coming up. It's starting to come together nicely now and we've got exciting times ahead.
On what management are expecting from the matches...
We're doing stuff in training and getting pictures in our heads as a team and trying to implement those onto the pitch. Obviously we want to get results and win a game of football but I think they are more bothered about seeing these pictures come out and implementing them on the game.
On setting personal targets ahead of the season...
I think it's a vital season for me personally this year. Last year was tough. I learned more than I ever would in the last year especially. As a group we want to get promoted and that is our main target but personally I want to be a big part in playing my part and helping the lads achieve that.
