Caley Thistle manager John Robertson says his players must guard against muscular injuries as they return to training following a six-month shutdown.
Inverness’ players reported to Caledonian Stadium yesterday for fitness checks, ahead of their first training session today.
Although Robertson is pleased with the physical fitness levels accrued by his players during the lockdown period, the Caley Jags boss is wary of niggling injuries in the build up to the new Championship campaign.
Robertson said: “The players look physically in great shape, but it’s going to be difficult because by the time we come back to playing, they will have been six months without kicking a ball.
“That is a worry, but it’s going to be a worry for all clubs.
“When you look at the English leagues going back, I know we don’t play at the same pace and physicality, but they had six weeks back and felt they were two weeks short.
“A lot of players struggled with hamstrings, thighs and so on.
“The muscular aspect is something we will have to watch, but there is very little we can do.
“The only way you can do it is to get them kicking balls, shooting, crossing, passing and playing games.
“I don’t have any worries about the players’ physical fitness or their core fitness, because they have been doing a lot of work.
“It’s now a question of getting their muscles used to it, because six months is a long time.”
Inverness have joined a number of other second-tier sides in returning to training, ahead of their first competitive match away to fellow Championship side Hearts in the Betfred Cup group stage on October 6.
The Highlanders also face League Two outfit Cowdenbeath on October 13, before starting their league campaign away to Dunfermline four days later.
Caley Jags have two friendlies against Elgin City scheduled, with Robertson’s side due to travel to Borough Briggs on September 26 before hosting the Black and Whites on October 3.
Robertson insists his side will be ready for action, adding: “We will be like the majority of clubs, in a situation where the players will come back some time this month, and then we will just have to work away.
“We will speak to the sports scientists, sports psychologists and use our own trained eye to see what we require.
“I’m fairly confident that after a day or two of testing, to see if they have followed the programmes we have given them, that we should be able to get on to the football quite quickly.”