Our boys are training again in Taxham. After completing obligatory performance testing in the past few days, it was time for them to take to the training pitch for the first time on Saturday.

Our coach Gerhard Struber started to put the players through their paces at 11:00 this morning under the freezing cold rain. The weather couldn't put a dampener on the enthusiasm for the new season among the boys - our coach was also in good spirits and full of energy as usual:

I felt a really good energy today. Everyone is pleased that we are back in action, and the boys were playing with so much joy - we'll need that in the weeks ahead. We want to make the most of every day of training, as things are going to come thick and fast from the start of February. We will make sure every session is useful and continue developing a style to make us succeed. The preparation period gives us the opportunity to take important steps forward.

Gerhard Struber

I am looking forward to the preparation period. We will lay the foundations for everything to come. We can concentrate on certain things and go right at it. We will make the most of the next few weeks and develop well. We want to win titles at the end, of course, and we will have to put the effort in fully now for that.

Alex Schlager

Absentees

Along with three African Cup of Nations participants and the long-term injury absentee Nico Capaldo, Amankwah Forson, Samson Baidoo and Adam Daghim all missed training today with the trio bedridden with illness. Nico Mantl was not there either, as he is all set to move to Denmark. Maurits Kjaergaard, Oumar Solet and Aleksa Terzic are in individual training after injuries. Liefering youngsters Salko Hamzic and Lawrence Agyekum took part.

Report on RBS TV

Training restarts – Red Bulls back in action!