Walsall manager Jon Whitney has spoken to the local press ahead of Saturday afternoon's pre-season clash with Lincoln City, and has backed his squad to be fit for the coming campaign after a solid spell of training which has seen them run for over 200,000 metres.
Jon, who was speaking via the Express & Star, said; "Every team is trying to get an upper hand in pre-season and do something different. At the end of the day it is all about hard work and graft. After that it is application, attitude and mindsets.
"Fitness gives you confidence. Knowing you have put those metres in. I have a tally for the lads and it is over 200,000 we have done. They have been excellent. If you miss that you can’t get that volume back.
"People say if you miss pre-season you are never the same and I agree. You end up getting little niggles, chasing your tail all the time. You can’t chase back 200,000 metres. It is all down the fitness work they have done."