Chris Eagles: "we're going to be fitter and stronger than we previously have been"

The Bolton Wanderers squad have arrived back in Manchester Airport this morning following the pre-season trip to Spain but will be feeling the benefits of a tough pre-season trip according to Chris Eagles.

Dougie Feedman's boys had been training in temperatures up to 30°C while participating in a grueling week-long camp in Marbella. With only 21 days left until Wanderers kick off their campaign away at Turf Moor, Chris Eagles has spoken about the significance of this trip. Bolton's first pre-season friendly is scheduled for this Tuesday, at Rotherham, and things are shaping up nicely.

Speaking at the club's training base in the mountains of southern Andalusia, last season's top goal scorer, Eagles, said this in an exclusive interview with the club's official website:

"This stage of pre-season is very difficult, it is demanding both physically and mentally

"You are sweating after the warm up and that takes a lot out of you. I believe with the gaffer we are going to be fitter and stronger than we previously have been."

It sounds like Dougie Freedman and his fitness team have been putting the players through their paces. Hopefully this will be seen with the Wanderers facing a tricky start to their campaign playing the likes of Reading and Queens Park Rangers early doors.

"We are doing a lot of strength work and I am feeling more powerful. We are learning and developing as a team, and obviously with the two new signings at full back, Marc Tierney and Alex Baptiste, it has been nice getting to know them because they will have to learn the way I play and vice versa.

"The players the gaffer has brought are all top quality players and great lads which is the main thing. We are all excited for the season to start."

This is promising news with the new signings hoping to hit the ground running at the Reebok. With Eagles' comments about the caliber of the two new men, it seems like Dougie has done some shrewd business.

In comparison to last year's pre-season, everything seems to be rosier. Last season's tour of Scotland eventually wasn't a success and the team's poor start to the campaign showed signs fo that. After the recent YouTube clips of the training sessions you get the impression that more hard work has been done this year. These videos have proved that Eagles did more than topping up on his impressive tan. Hopefully the hard work will come true with the Whites going one better this year.