Jordan Clark relished the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Premier League opposition after concluding a strong pre-season programme.
Starting against non-league neighbours Hitchin Town and ending against last season’s Europa League semi-finalists West Ham, with a trip to Slovenia in between, the 28-year-old spoke positivity about pre-season as a whole.
After being presented with the Man of the Match award in the Eric Morecambe Lounge after the game, Clicker said: “It was a tough game. We knew what it would be like because they’re obviously a Premier League side, but you want to play against the best. It was a good test before the real stuff starts next week."
Four summer signings were involved on a sunny afternoon at Kenilworth Road and the midfielder is impressed with how they have all integrated themselves within the squad.
“They are all great lads. The one thing the manager does, he doesn’t recruit any egos or anything like that so they have settled in really well. We’ve got a good group of lads here so it makes it easy for them to settle in. They’ve all come in and they are going to make us stronger and help us progress like we did last year."
The trip to Slovenia was the first real opportunity to get to know the newbies on a personal level, a week that is imperative for not only team morale but getting plenty of work into the players in a different heat.
“I’ve never been before and I didn’t know what to expect but it’s a beautiful place. The weather was a bit mental, some days it was 35 degrees, the next it was thunderstorms and rain.
"It was hard work, we were training two or three times a day but then had a bit of down time to rest. It was good team bonding, which is one of the main reasons we go away to these places, get to know the new lads and get chatting. We played a game out there as well, so it was a good trip I really enjoyed it.”
Following a four-week period of six matches and plenty of training, Clark and his teammates are now ready and raring to go against Birmingham in the Championship opener next weekend.
“Pre-season is a lot of running and fitness work, then the games are where you get your minutes. Next week will probably be similar but not as intense, more tactical and obviously looking towards Birmingham.
"I’m sure all the staff will be watching their previous games in pre-season trying to get an idea of how they play so we can combat that. We will be focusing on ourselves to be honest, working on how to beat them.”