Thursday 19 June 2014 11:37, UK
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says the World Cup has helped to motivate his squad for their early return to pre-season training.
The Dons flew out to Ireland on Monday for a fitness camp and to play a friendly against St Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday.
Next week they will find out who they play in qualifying for the Europa League, with the first leg of that game taking place on July 3.
McInnes admits the early start to competitive action is ‘not ideal’ but that the wall-to-wall television coverage of the World Cup in Brazil has given his squad’s enthusiasm levels a boost.
“The way the season finished for us meant we had to come back earlier which was not ideal at the time,” he told Sky Sports News.
“But now we’re back, the enthusiasm is generated again among the players. I think the World Cup helps, we’ve not been shy of football recently.
“The players have come back in good nick and we’ve got to make sure we’re ready for that European game because that’s our first proper game and it has affected our pre-season plans.
“Now we’re back, we’re looking forward to it.”
