Kyle Knoyle continues to progress well in his recovery from hernia surgery at the end of June.
The right back went under the knife having played through the pain barrier towards the end of last season, and says to have the problem solved early in the summer is a relief.
He said: “The surgery went well and I’m feeling really good, I’ve enjoyed my first week of rehab and looking forward to cracking on with it.
“I was carrying it through the back end of last season and thought it would be fine through pre-season, but there was still a bit of a niggle which we all felt was best to have sorted.
“It’s never nice to miss any period but I should be back for the first league game and that’s the main aim for me.”
With the rest of the group a few weeks into their pre-season schedule, Knoyle says the mood in camp is a good one with a clear focus on the direction they want to head in.
He added: “The big difference this summer is how close the lads are, there is an emphasis on team unity which can go a long way.
“I feel more settled and like I can crack on for the season ahead, while also helping the new lads to get their feet under the table.
“We didn’t really have a direction last season but we’ve set clear targets this time around which everyone is on board with.
“We want to use the disappointment of last season to drive us, we all want to achieve the same thing and that is vital in any dressing room.”
