A demanding pre-season programme will help provide Nottingham Forest with the perfect base for the campaign ahead, according to Matty Cash.
New boss Sabri Lamouchi has been putting the players through their paces on a training camp in Spain as they build up their fitness for the start of the Championship.
In soaring temperatures the Reds have been hard at work, with some double sessions, as well as a 6.30am run on Thursday.
Lamouchi was also in the dugout for the first time on Tuesday, overseeing a 0-0 draw against Dundee at the Pinatar Arena.
Six more friendlies are scheduled – two of them during a second training camp in Greece – before that first clash of the new term, against West Bromwich Albion on August 3.
And Cash has been discussing
Asked which part of pre-season he enjoys the most, he told Seat Pitch: “Maybe not the running!
“When you’ve had a tough day, it’s nice to get inside, get in bed and know that you’ve done your work and you’re getting fitter and stronger every day.
“When you’re going running and doing the hard training, it’s a grind, but when you’ve done it, you’re fit and you’re happy.”
On the new season, he added: “We’re really looking forward to it. Four weeks away, it’s going to come quite quickly at us.
“The base that we’re building now is for the first game of the season ahead.”
When the real action does get underway, Cash is hoping to build on his goal tally for the club.
The 21-year-old has bagged 10 so far, eight of them last term, when he opened with an impressive run of four strikes in his first six games.
Talking about his personal targets for the upcoming campaign, he said: “To score as many goals as I can.
“I think every attacking player says that, to score and create goals and do well for the team.
“Obviously the main thing is the three points on a Saturday but if I can help create or score, then that will help it.”
