McAteer's first Ireland goal a distant memory in gruelling pre-season grind
McAteer is playing catch-up with his non-international Leicester City teammates now that he has finally returned to pre-season training - and the 23-year-old is being put through the ringer.
He started a unique pre-season friendly on Saturday, as the Foxes saw off Belgian side OH Leuven 2-1 in a 180-minute game, with three different 11s getting 60 minutes each.
McAteer had an early chance - a header that skimmed the crossbar - and the runout was the latest stage of his delayed preparations for the new campaign.
'The first few days of pre-season are always tough, especially coming in a bit later than a lot of the boys,' he told the Leicester City website. 'But I'm just getting to grips with it now and getting the fitness in. That's what it's all about in pre-season.
'When you're coming in on the first day, you have to do your testing, which is the worst bit about it, but it's just how it is and the way it falls.
'But now I'm back in with the boys, which is what I wanted to do. It's nice to link up with everyone again after a few weeks off, build those relationships up again and get down to it.
'They are a bit further ahead fitness-wise than us boys who have come in after the international games. We had a few more days off but it's about catching up now and that's what we're looking to do.
'You never really switch off, especially mentally. You're always thinking about pre-season coming around and getting back to your top levels of fitness. You need to do a few more sessions and get the work in the legs.'
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