New Central Coast Mariners signing Chris Doig has joined the rest of the squad on their return to pre-season training, for an intense two-hour fitness testing session.
New Central Coast Mariners signing Chris Doig has joined the rest of the squad on their return to pre-season training, for an intense two-hour fitness testing session.
While the pain was plain to see on the faces of the rest of the Mariners squad, Doig-s first hit out in Mariners colours was even more taxing, having stepped off a plane at Sydney Airport following a marathon 30-hour journey just a day earlier.
“My legs are a bit like jelly, I think they are still in Dubai, but no, it was good to get out there and get the first session out of the way,” said Doig.
“They are a great group of lads, but it-s just getting the legs going again. This is the longest break I-ve had after a season so that, coupled with the journey means it will take me a few days to get going, but it was a good session.
“The worst part of football is the pre-season , but once the we get the games going it will become more enjoyable, and then it will be straight into the season.”
To make matters worse, the first training session of a five-week pre-season campaign was held in temperatures well into the 20-s, temperatures usually reserved for the middle of summer for Doig, who hails from Dumfries, in Scotland-s South West.
“Just looking out there and it-s supposed to be winter, this is normal summer weather for me, but it was good for me to get going and to meet all the lads.”
If the 28 year old former Nottingham Forest and Northampton Town defender thought this was tough, he will need to be ready for the height of an Australian Summer, and trips to places such as Townsville and Perth.
“That will be interesting, but hopefully by then I will have acclimatised, so we-ll see.”
The squad has little time to recover from the gruelling start to its pre-season, back on the training pitch tomorrow as they prepare for their first hit out since going on a two week holiday, next week against Sydney FC.
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