Our boys had a good three weeks to charge their batteries before returning with full verve. Before training starts on Saturday, Gerhard Struber's boys are going through their traditional performance tests.

Our Red Bulls have a total of four weeks of training, three friendly matches and one training camp in which to prepare for the start of February - with big challenges ahead in a UNIQA ÖFB Cup quarter-final at LASK and ADMIRAL Bundesliga home match v Sturm Graz.

Coach Gerhard Struber says on this key period:

I am pleased that we are getting back to business and that we can welcome our players back to Taxham. We have to use the next few weeks to better gel together and work on our playing ideas. We are resuming against strong opponents, and we will prepare as best as we possibly can.

Further views will be provided after our first training session on Saturday from 12:30 CET in a Mixed Zone – live on RBS TV.

Three strikers at AFCON

Our three players in African Cup of Nations action will miss the preparation period. Sekou Koita (Mali), Karim Konate (Ivory Coast) and Dorgeles Nene (Mali) are set to represent their national teams, with their return dependent on their sides' progress in the tournament.

FC Liefering youngster Adam Daghim will train with the first team squad in the preparation period.

Injury updates

Nicolas Capaldo is not yet in Salzburg as he is completing therapy in Argentina after a knee operation. Maurits Kjaergaard, Oumar Solet and Aleksa Terzic are resuming training - step-by-step - after long injury breaks.

Preparation period dates

4- 5 January
Performance tests

Saturday 6 January, 10:30 CET
Team training starts in Taxham

Saturday 6 January, 12:30
Mixed Zone in Taxham

11 to 20 January
Training camp in Marbella

Saturday 13 January, 16:00, Marbella
Friendly: FC Red Bull Salzburg v SV Elversberg

Friday 19 January, 16:00, Marbella
Friendly: FC Red Bull Salzburg v FK Bodö Glimt

Saturday 27 January, 14:00, Taxham training camp
Friendly: FC Red Bull Salzburg v Slask Wroclaw

Friday 2 February, 18:00 (Raiffeisen Arena)
UNIQA ÖFB Cup, quarter-final: LASK v FC Red Bull Salzburg

Friday 9 February, 20:30 (Red Bull Arena)
ADMIRAL Bundesliga: FC Red Bull Salzburg v SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz

Winter preparation period starts