Hibs' Josh Campbell has been used to running up Arthur's Seat - so getting the ball out early doors this pre-season has been a blessing.
New manager Lee Johnson started his Easter Road reign with a comfortable 5-0 win over Clyde in the Premier Sports Cup last Saturday and take on Falkirk in their second group match tonight. The former Sunderland manager has been keen to get the players working on their technical side early doors and Campbell believes it's providing benefits.
Speaking as Hibs launched a partnership with League One club FC Edinburgh, the 22-year-old says it has made the summer a lot more enjoyable: "It's been a strange pre-season, personally. There's been a lot less running and more ball-work which is new for me. I've never really done that, it's usually been running, but the gaffer's been brilliant at getting the ball out more which is a change from managers I've had in the past.
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"Strangely enough, you'd think you wouldn't feel as fit but I went into the Clyde game feeling absolutely amazing and really fit - especially after the pre-season games we played in Portugal - so you do feel fitter, but maybe don't notice it as much.
"It's much more enjoyable - I've been up Arthur's Seat a few times in pre-season and that's not nice so this is definitely preferable.
"The gaffer says I've got great energy and fitness and I need to use that - he wants to make the most of it. We're playing a high press so that suits me. He wants me to get forward and always be in and around the box and in areas where I can get the ball."
It was a tough season for Hibs in term 21/22, as they finished in the Premiership's bottom six and went through two head coaches in Jack Ross and Shaun Maloney.
On a person note it was a success for Campbell, who established himself as a Leith regular with 35 appearances, having only made three in seasons previous. This time around, the midfielder wants team achievement.
He added: "I've been through a few managers and it's just a case of starting the process again but it's been a good pre-season and the trip to Portugal was good with the new players.
"We had a wee night out and all the players got to know each other. There are a lot of new faces and the range of nationalities has increased as well so pre-match you hear people speaking all these different languages. it's good.
"I haven't picked any of it up though, it's all going over my head! It was a bad season for the club but on a personal level it was good.
"I aimed to play five games, and then I managed to beat that so I aimed for ten, then 15, and I got up to 30. I was very happy on a personal level but it's all about the team and it was a disappointing season.
"It was a real confidence-booster that I played under every manager last season, it shows the trust they have in me."
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