United’s first-team squad heads north of the border for a week-long training camp this morning, with manager Paul Simpson very much focused on what he wants to achieve from the spell away from Brunton Park.
“I’m not going to be doing anything fancy dan,” he said. “We’re not going off and building rafts and all of that sort of stuff.
“We won’t be hiking up mountains, or anything along this lines, we’re going there to live together for five days and to find out how we can cope together.
“We’ll have training sessions and recovery sessions, and we’ve got a really good game lined up. More importantly I think it’s a change of scenery.
“Over a long season it can become a bit like groundhog day, when you’re in the same building and at the same place. I wanted to change it up a bit and thankfully the club has allowed us to do that.
“I’m expecting a really good facility, and hopefully the lads will all learn to get on with each other and about what makes each other tick.
“Or even what naffs each other so we avoid that going forward. I’m looking forward to seeing how they all are up there.”
“I suppose it’s an opportunity to live together for the five days, be under each other’s skin where you learn a lot about people,” he continued. “We’ll be training, we’re going to play games, but it’s the getting everybody together.
“We know once we come back and get that first game against Crawley, we’re going to be here from then until May of next year. That’s why I think a change of scenery does you the world of good.
“No doubt there will be some initiations, somebody will have to perform as new players and things like that, and it just gets a little bit of spirit in the group. It’s trying to get an understanding of what’s required this season to take us where we want to go.”
The trip coincides with extreme weather warnings that could see temperatures soar, particularly over the next few days.
“We haven’t even had to queue up in airports to get our warm weather training,” he joked. “The forecast is really good, the facility up there is excellent, I’m looking forward to it.
“We’re prepared for the heat, it’s not a case of going up and having a jolly up. We’ll see how we are when we come back from it.
“Our game is an in-house game, similar to the Morton game, where we’re just going to try and have a real good workout against a good Scottish side.
“I think it’ll be another big test for us, again because they’re a few weeks ahead of us, but it’s a game I think will be a brilliant extension of our training programme.
“We’re doing it at a national training centre and I believe it’s very good. I’ve never been there, I’ve just heard very good things about it.
“While we’re away there’s work that will be going on here. There’s a few more bits in the dressing room area in need of sorting out which will give us the chance to do that, so that when we come back, and we’re ready for the start of the season, there’s no more disruption.
“Ian the decorator, who’s been full-time here since the end of last season, will get the chance to work without us ferreting around him. Little things can be put right ready to come back in, and once we’ve done the Morecambe game it will be full steam ahead ready for the Crawley game.”
Joining the group in Scotland will be Jamie Devitt, who continues to train with the club through pre-season.
“He’ll definitely be with us,” he confirmed. “He only got a little bit of the game on Saturday, I would imagine he’ll start the game this week to see how he is.
“We need to make a decision. He’s been fit for probably about 10 days, maybe a little bit longer. He just needs to keep showing whether he’s the right one for us or not.
“And we’re pleased with where the lads are fitness wise, we saw that against Bolton. I think team bonding comes from working hard together and getting results together.
“That sort of performance at the weekend and the work ethic they’ve all had together where they’ve backed each other and chased for each other, that’s what gets you team spirit.
“We’ll be trying to do that again this week. We’ll be training, playing, living in each other’s pockets for five days which is a big challenge, and we’ll see who can sing and who can’t.”