Steve says pre-season preparations are a lot more scientific

Steve Davis says the days of long 10-mile runs during pre-season are gone but there is more concentration of all types of running. The Alex boss admits that the players practice short sprints bursts, as well as endurance and stamina runs.

The Crewe Alexandra players returned for pre-season training on Monday ahead of a period of fitness testing but the Alex boss is not one for keeping the footballs locked away until August.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “The days of us dropping players off and telling them to run back to the training ground are over. I still remember when Dario used to have us running around Delamere Forest!

“We do different types of running with the players now. They will do their endurance work but it is also important to work on their short sprints, that explosiveness off the mark. You even have to work on running backwards because it is all part of the game. 

“I am not a believer in hiding the balls away. We will get them out and do our fitness drills with the footballs. It is important that the players get back into it and work on their passing and touch.”