Joe Newell talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United midfielder Joe Newell admits he is looking forward to reporting back to Roundwood with his teammates on Monday, despite Paul Warne’s promise of once again testing his players’ mental and physical resolve this summer.
Newell was one of a few players to make an early return to the club’s training ground yesterday ahead of next week’s official start date and the former Peterborough United man insists he is buzzing to be reunited with his promotion-winning colleagues as they gear up for the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship campaign.
“It doesn't feel too long ago to be honest but because we've been promoted you're buzzing to get started again,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“You know how good the season can be that's coming up. It might have been different if we'd lost in the final but it feels good to be coming back.”
Following a long, arduous season, the Millers squad were rewarded with a well-earned summer break after the Wembley win just over a month ago and whilst the 25-year-old has enjoyed time away from the club, the prospect of the newly-released second tier fixtures has him looking forward to their return.
“We had a very long season last season and we all worked very hard,” Newell continued.
“I've had a really good four or five weeks off on my holidays and stuff which was well-deserved but as soon as the fixture list came out the other week and you get thinking about all of the games we're going to play this year it gets you excited to get back.”
The skilful midfielder continued to say that whilst the prospect of the upcoming miles in the UK and Austria is daunting, he is hopeful that he and his teammates can once again reap the rewards of the physical fitness gained over the summer and admits he will be trying to climb the rankings to catch the likes of Jon Taylor and Ryan Williams at the head of the running pack.
“I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to it, but I'm expecting it again!"
“I'll try and climb my way up this year from second last to maybe third or fourth last!
“Austria and pre-season will be tough as it was last year but if it keeps is in the same stead that it did last season with our fitness throughout the year, towards the end especially, then it's all good.
“I remember our pre-season last year, the gaffer and Ross explained that the distances we had run were unbelievable compared to what they've been used to. I think we showed that effort and character that we built up in pre-season throughout the course of the year and it proved itself. The strongest spell we had was during the busy months in Christmas and the New Year and then we finished the season strongly as well.”