For Andy Carroll, being injury-free in pre-season is a feeling to savour.
The West Ham United centre forward is fit and enjoying preparing for the new Premier League campaign for just the second time since joining the Club on a permanent basis in the summer of 2013.
And Carroll is making the most of it, putting in the hard yards in Switzerland, where new manager Manuel Pellegrini has given his squad an intensive workload.
“It’s been very hard, it’s been tough,” confirmed the No9, who captained the Hammers and scored in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat in a hot and draining Winterthur. “The new manager has come in and everyone is out there to impress. We’ve had a couple of triple sessions so it’s been really hard, but getting back to the football and playing 45 minutes was great. I got a goal and we got the first game out of the way.
“Obviously we came out here to win but, at the end of the day, it’s 45 minutes under our belts and next time hopefully I’ll get some more minutes. The result really doesn’t matter, so it was good for the lads to get a run out.
“It would be good to get a full pre-season in. I’m positive at the minute and hopefully it stays like that and I can work hard and keep fit and hopefully I can be fit for the beginning of the season.”
Carroll and the squad have made the most of their stay in Bad Ragaz, training up to three times a day and bonding with teammates old and new.
On Tuesday, Jack Wilshere will join the group for the first time, reuniting Carroll with his former England U21 colleague and further bolstering a strong West Ham squad.
“It’s fantastic, the facilities that we’re in. The hotel is brilliant and the pitches we’re training on are great as well, so everyone is enjoying it and everyone is in a good mood. It’s a lot better than being in a terrible place!”
Carroll has also enjoyed working with new manager Manuel Pellegrini and his coaching staff, with each session meticulously planned to get the most out of every single player.
“He seems good. He knows what he wants. Obviously, his CV says it all and we’ve just got to listen to him. He’s brought in his staff and they’ve been fantastic as well.
“We’ve just got to work hard, listen to him and hopefully we can push on this season.”