Two training sessions in and we already have three players on the treatment table - one, rather embarrassingly, me!!

John Flyn felt his hamstring go 10 mins into the first practice game when he attempted his first shot on goal (he missed). Apparently he suffered with tight hamstrings in his playing days, but has reported that it doesn’t feel so bad as they used to so he is optimistic of being fit.

Lee Riley didn’t train as he said he hamstrings had tightened up after playing tennis with me in the morning. This seems to be a sensible precaution rather than a problem so we aren’t worried about him at this stage.

Mine is a bit weird to be honest. Right at the beginning of the first session I kicked a ball with my right foot and felt want is best described as a knot in my right thigh. I stretched it out and all was fine, both during and after the game. I played tennis yesterday morning and did a fair amount of running, sprinting, stopping, changing direction etc and it felt fine.

However as soon as I got on the pitch I kicked the ball with my right foot and felt like I had been shot in the right thigh, exactly where the knot had been the week before. I stretched and tried to play but although I could jog I couldn’t jump, sprint, or kick the ball - and then my left thigh started feeling the same.

I stopped and did a lot of stretching and this morning they both feel better, but the right one is still hurting. I have just had a very long hot bath and really stretched it out. It still feels like there is a knot in the muscle, so hopefully it will clear up relatively quickly. Will be doing all the right things - lots of rest, lots of stretching, only good healthy food and lots of water. Not only do I want to be fit for the tournament, but I want to be able to play in the subsequent 5 a side and get a good summer of tennis played (especially as John and Richard had said they will play as well).

More to follow ……