Cardiff City players put through gruelling tests on day one of pre-season as stars report for duty
The Brian Barry-Murphy era begins proper today, with Cardiff City's players having reported to pre-season duties at the club's Vale of Glamorgan training HQ.
Today marks exactly a week since the Irishman was appointed as the man to take charge of the Bluebirds, tasked with the responsibility of getting the club back to the Championship at the first time of asking following the disappointment of relegation last year. And now he will get a chance to run his eyes over the players he has at his disposal.
Among the gathering cohort at the Vale are academy kids pushing for first-team places this year, players who have returned from loan spells away and many of those who were part of the relegation campaign last year, too. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community
It will be an unfamiliar feeling in many ways, this pre-season, as it will be the first time in a decade and a half Joe Ralls will not be part of summer training. It was announced at the weekend that, following conversations with Barry-Murphy, the 31-year-old would leave and seek pastures new.
Ralls joins the mass exodus, which includes the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Andy Rinomhota, Yakou Meite, Dimitrios Goutas, Jamilu Collins and Anwar El Ghazi, out the door, with this summer suddenly feeling like a reset and fresh start for the club.
Among those pictured at the club were returning loan players Kion Etete (Bolton), Ryan Wintle (Millwall) and Joel Colwill (Exeter City), while academy graduates Ronan Kpakio, Dylan Lawlor, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Cian Ashford were all present.
"The squad has been split into two groups on the opening day, to allow time for the necessary testing to take place with medical and performance coaches," the club said of the structure of the day. Here's some of the best pictures from day one. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
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