Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists his players are ready for the rigours of a new season.
The Dons will start the new Scottish Premiership season at Dundee United on Saturday, August 8, and the manager is with the squad at St Andrews preparing for the new campaign after a close season of little more than three weeks.
Despite the short break which is due to the club’s first Europa League qualifying match on Thursday, July 2, McInnes insists his players will be ready for the new campaign.
He said: “It was a concern for the players that it was a short break but they have come back refreshed and the lure of European football has made it easier to come back.
“We said at the time the concern would be that some players wouldn’t have any down time but we have tried to manage that situation person by person to ensure we are ready for the first game of the season.
“It is a gradual process for everyone but the players only finished three-and-a-half weeks ago, so the intensity will not be what it has been in the past.
“This will not be as challenging a pre-season as it ordinarily would but there are still tough sessions ahead for the players. I’m just glad I’m the one with the whistle rather than having to do the running.”
McInnes has brought in two defensive recruits in preparation for the new campaign in Graeme Shinnie from Caley Thistle and Ross County’s Paul Quinn.
Others will follow before the window closes at midnight on September 1 but, having guided his side to a second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership last season, the Aberdeen manager is pleased with the strength of his squad as they prepare for Europe.
He said: “We cannot sit back and pat ourselves on the back at the changes made. We wanted a team feared and respected which other teams had to play well to beat and we have that now.
“I don’t want 11 players and another five or six who are happy to hope to play.
“We’ve got real competition for places now and the under-20 players are pushing hard for a place. I do believe the squad has the quality and it is important we add to that.
“We’ve done that with a couple of signings and there will be one or two more before the window closes.
“The players know the same 11 cannot play week in, week out. I want us to be able to meet the demands and go the distance in the cups but it takes a strong squad to cope with that.”
Ross County open their campaign at champions Celtic, while Caley Thistle host Motherwell, who retained their place in the Premiership by beating Rangers in a two-legged play-off.