Reds stalwart Bobby Hassell is delighted to be back in pre-season training as he puts last year’s injury behind him.
“It’s a shock to the body coming here,” Hassell told Barnsley Player. “It’s a lot hotter than last year. It’s not good when you’ve got red hair as well!”
Barnsley longest serving current player, a medial knee ligament injury forced him out for 12 weeks before returning on the final day of the season.
“There was nothing I could do about that injury,” Bobby told Barnsley Player in Marbella. “It was just a tackle and that was it – out for ten to twelve weeks.”
“But the lads here are probably the fittest team I’ve been involved with in my career. A lot of lads have been in over the summer doing a lot of stuff. The lads have been looking very fit.
“When I play, I think I’ll be playing in a few different positions. I’ll be aiming to play more games than last year. I’ll play anywhere.
“I’m never going to stop enjoying playing. A lot of people want to do what we do, it’s brilliant.”
The Reds’ first competitive clash of 2012/13 sees a return for Keith Hill to Rochdale in the League Cup. A match recently brought forward to Saturday 11th August.
“We’ll be ready for that definitely,” said Hassell. “I’m actually glad it’s a Saturday now and not on Tuesday so we’ve got a full week to prepare for the league.”