Carl Lawson is rubbing his hands together in anticipation for the start of the 2016-17 Premier League 2 campaign.
Back on Wearside now following a fitness-fuelled four-day training camp in the sizzling Spanish heat, preparations have continued to hot up ahead of the Lads’ curtain-raiser against Chelsea on August 14.
With a trip to Leeds United on Saturday, then another away test at Burnley on Friday, Andy Welsh is ramping up the intensity as his players near peak fitness.
Speaking to safc.com Lawson admitted now the Lads have returned to the Academy of Light, everyone is itching for the new season to commence.
"It is a big challenge to equal what we did last season,” he said. “To finish second in the country at development level was a fantastic achievement.
“It was a fine reward for the efforts we put in throughout last season and now this season it’s a younger team but it would be great to get back into a similar run of form this year."
He continued: “Pre-season has been great and I have put in a lot of hard work so now I’m ready to go, I know I have got to push on this year and really do my best.”
