Caddis admits the heat is on for the players (From This Is Swindon Town FC)

SWINDON TOWN: Caddis admits the heat is on for the players

6:00am Wednesday 4th July 2012 in nPower League Two By Sam Morshead

AS IF ANYONE needed any convincing, Swindon captain Paul Caddis has stressed that Town’s first three days in Italy have proved that the squad are not on a summer jolly in the fierce heat of Lake Garda.

Caddis, who is currently recovering from a knee injury, emphasised that the ‘sleep, eat, run’ programme the players are being put through is more torture than tourism – with fitness coach Claudio Donatelli pushing the Robins through hours of rigorous exercises each day.

Town’s players are not allowed out of the team hotel in between their morning and evening training sessions, although some access to the local town, Lazise, is available to them after dinner.

However, Caddis accepted that he and his teammates have not been sent to Italy for rest and relaxation.

“It can get boring at times but at the end of the day we’re here to do a job and we’re here to get fit, and that’s the main reason we’re here,” he said. “We’re not on holiday.

“I think if you look at it from the manager’s side of things it’s ideal because he knows the boys are all together, they’re gelling together and it’s just purely a training camp.

“There’s not much spare time, as I said it’s just eat, breakfast, get up, train during the day then train again, eat dinner and go to bed – and that’s you for two weeks.

“The facilities are good. The pitches are really nice, the gym’s not great but it’s got what you need.

“The lads have been put through their paces as normal in pre-season.

“It’s just continued on from back in England except the heat plays a part over here.

“It was similar (last year), this time I think it’s a little hotter. I think the boys are hoping just to get through it and not think too much about the weather, especially when it gets to about 40 degrees.

“It’s tough but we’ll be going into next season a lot fitter than we were.”

Caddis is not expected to feature in Thursday’s friendly against a local select XI because of his knee complaint, but he said the prospect of competitive action is helping the players through the intense training regime they are being subjected to at present.

“It’s good just to get a ball again in an official match. It’ll be good,” he said. “It’s good just to get back into the swing of things. There’s nothing the same as an actual game against opposition.

“We’re playing against teams who are probably going to be similar to the teams we played last year.

“To be honest they weren’t the greatest opposition, but I’m sure by the time the Bayern Munich game comes then the boys’ fitness will certainly have to come out then.”