With preparations for the new season upon them, Justin Walker says that Derby County’s Under-18s have returned for pre-season in ‘great spirits’.
The Under-18s returned, alongside the Under-23s, for the first day of their pre-season preparations on Monday 3rd July ahead their U18 Premier League start date next month.
Their day began with screening and medical testing before the first and second year scholars were put through their paces in a series of running-based fitness tests.
Thanks to their off-season training programmes, though, the footballs were out in the Under-18s’ first training session and Walker believes this is credit to the hard work of his players over the course of the close-season.
Speaking exclusively to RamsTV to discuss the Under-18s’ first day back, Walker said: “The session was really positive; it’s great to be back.
“The lads were all in great spirits and overall we have had a really positive morning with them.
“After a long season, a break is what everyone needed. Sometimes you need to get away and just do anything other than football but I’ve ended up watching quite a lot of it.
“Having said that, though, it is great to be back on the pitch.
“All the players had off-season programmes to do and from the look of it on day one, it looks as though a lot of them have taken on-board the advice from the staff.
“They all look in good shape and so we are looking forward to what we hope will be a very good season.
“We’ll see over the coming weeks just how much they have done but from the first glimpse, it looks really positive.”
As well as discussing the team’s return in general, Walker also took time to discuss the arrival of eight new first year scholars which the club have opted to take on.
Max Bird, Jordan Brown, Lee Buchanen, Connor Dixon, Sam French, Jason Knight, Callum Minkley and Morgan Whittaker have all joined the Rams as part of a two-year scholarship programme and will be working alongside the already existing 15 scholars.
On the new additions, Walker explained: “A lot of the new scholars integrated with us last season so it is a case of familiar faces really.
“It is nice to see the group come together and it seems as though everyone is comfortable and excited to be back.
“They are very good group, there are no questions about that.
“I think physically they were very good last year and there is some very exciting potential within the group this season.”
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