Steve Davis says getting through without injuries is the most important aspect of pre-season

Steve Davis says there were a number of plus points to take from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chester FC. The Alex boss was pleased with some of the passing sequences and combination play but he was just relieved that his players have come through unscathed yet again.

Davis still remembers losing Mathias Pogba on the verge of the new season last time around after he suffered a serious knee injury against Manchester United. The injury cost Pogba and the club the first five months of the campaign.

Following the 1-1 draw with Chester, Steve told us: “It is sometimes difficult to know what to say with all these pre-season games because you can look too far into things. The most important thing is that the players get their fitness levels up and they come through without injures.

“We have managed to come through again and that if the most important thing because in previous years that hasn’t been the case and it can set you back.

“I thought some of the passing play was good and the combination play was improving. There was also some sloppiness in there and fatigue began to creep in. There was some misunderstandings out there but we have thrown some trialists in to see how they would do.

Steve added: “Generally we did okay. There were some good performances and I’m sure there were a few who would have been disappointed but it is more about getting them through and building that fitness up.”