Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Davidson happy with Saints’ training plans as season start looms
CALLUM Davidson believes St Johnstone have got their training timings spot on.
Several other Premiership clubs got back to work well before the Perth men, Celtic as long ago as June 11.
But the new Saints boss pointed out that a bigger build-up ahead of the new top-flight campaign, due to start at the beginning of August, doesn’t automatically equate to a better build-up.
Davidson is in the perfect position to judge what is required given he has already overseen a phased football restart in his previous job as Gary Rowett’s assistant at Millwall.
And he is very happy with the timetable he is working to.
“I think having five weeks from contact training starting is enough time,” said Davidson.
“I remember from being a player myself, if it’s too long you are constantly thinking ‘when is the first game?’ It’s about having the right balance.
“I think we have got that and, hopefully, we’ll get games nearer the start of the season.”
The eagerness to impress a new leader has been in evidence on the McDiarmid training pitches and Davidson reported that his players have used their lockdown time well.
“They have been great,” he added.
“I’m pleased with how they looked after themselves over the long break they had.
“Although it sounds easy, it must have been difficult to get motivated to do the correct training.
“It’s easy to go out and do a 5k or a 10k, but not so simple to go out and push yourself to do short sprints and things like that.
“They’ve thrown themselves into it.”