THEY'RE BACK!

It is a little over seven weeks since we lifted the FA Cup at Wembley, but today it was back to work for the players and staff as the work began again for the season ahead.

A pre-season at the top end of the Premier League takes a great deal of planning, so it was probably with some relief for the backroom staff that the lads returned without any hitches, Yossi Benayoun involved in that number for the first time after sealing his move from Liverpool at the end of last week.

Much like those first days at school, it was a gradual introduction to work for the lads, who each had to undergo a series of physiological tests and a timed run before lunch.

After a break of a couple of hours it was time to play some football, and there is no bigger relief as a player than avoiding the old-fashioned treks around the pitch, replaced with high-intensity drills that combine both distance with technical work, and all rounded off with some competitive action on small pitches.

Of course not everybody was present, those who represented their countries at theWorld Cup (11 in total) will be returning to Cobham in the coming weeks, but there were still plenty of first-team returns, including the full complement of goalkeepers -Peter Chech, Hilario and Ross Trunbull.

Michael Essien and John Mikel Ovi were both back with the squad after periods out at the end of last season, and while they will be doing slightly different work from their team-mates, they will have a full involvement in training.

Jose Bosingwa meanwhile is not yet ready to join with the rest of the players as he continues his comeback from knee surgery, but it is hoped he will be ready for the start of the competitive season on August 8.

Today also saw appearances from some of the younger players who spent last season out on loan, Michael Mancienne, Jack Cork, Ryan Bertrand, Scott Sinclair and Franco Di Santo all back and eager to catch up on each other's summers, while Josh McEachran, still just 17, also joined the group.