That’s the view of Iain Brunskill, who is confident that jetting off for an international training camp will help the squad prepare for competitive matches on Scottish soil.
They set off for sunnier climes today (Friday) and are set to spend almost a week in the south east of Europe, a period which will also include a friendly match, before returning to Scotland ahead of a game at East Kilbride on Saturday June 28.
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Brunskill, who arrived as number two to Neil Lennon in March, gave an insight into how the trip away will look.
“It’s a pretty full-on schedule there,” he explained.
“We end up with a friendly game on the Thursday which is great. When we come back, we’re into games, so these first three or four days in Bulgaria, that’s where you get your real load into the players.
Iain Brunskill believes Pars will benefit from their pre-season trip. (Image: Craig Brown.) “The first game, it’s nice to get the players to familiarise themselves again. In terms of the match situation, it’s a different set of opponents, not familiar faces, should I say, and we’ll treat that game like a training session as well.
“So, it’s 45 minutes of really hard work, and then we’ll probably look at fielding two teams in that game, one first half and one the second half.
“Obviously that’s numbers dependent, and then we’re getting back into the games. The games then start to dictate what you’re doing, because you’re trying to build minutes up.
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“It’s a new thing for me in terms of the way that the (Premier Sports) cup works, so you’re playing really meaningful games quite early on, so you have to construct what you’re doing beforehand to make sure you’re ready for that.
“The competitive matches are good in one way but as it works out, before the first ball rolls of the league season we’ve probably played 9 or 10 matches, which is pretty good, because you know you should be in a good shape by then.”
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Recovery facilities and team bonding
Unlike when they train at home, the squad and staff will be together day and night for the time they’re away, and Brunskill believes that can prove to be a good thing – as it won’t just be hard work.
“Definitely, because it’s such an intense period. Everyone likes their own bed, but we can really focus in on them,” he continued.
“Not always training twice a day, but lots of recovery as well. There are really good facilities over there. It also gives the guys opportunities to bond when they’re around each other a lot.
“We’ve got a few little activities, which should be quite good. It’s always a benefit, and it was something we’d spoken about last year, when we were planning with the people above, that let’s try and lay some foundations here, for a couple of days, and then try and get the guys away, a bit of a change of scenery.
“We will be spending a couple of weeks up at Stirling University as well, using the training fields up there, after we get back from Bulgaria.
“That is also hugely beneficial, so we’re grateful for the powers that be for being able to do that for us.”
When asked what the thought process was to use facilities at the University of Stirling after the Pars return home, Brunskill said that being able to train on grass was part of it, adding: “We train on a good astroturf at Rosyth, but the pitch is not quite ready yet here.
Pars, pictured training at Rosyth, will also work at the University of Stirling during their pre-season preparations. (Image: Craig Brown.) “It’s looking good though, it seems to be sprouting up quite well.
“It’s just to get some grass work, and it’s a long old season, so it gives the guys another sort of environment.
“There are really good facilities up there, so hopefully that’ll be beneficial.”