Blades looking positive in Spanish sun

Sheffield United spent the past week in Girona taking part in a warm-weather training camp.

I was able to spend Thursday and Friday observing the sessions, led by new manager Ruben Selles.

The conditions were very hot and humid with the Spaniard opting for a longer session in the morning rather than splitting things up throughout the day.

We saw exhaustive pressing drills in the heat, passing sequences, a lot of transition work plus a focus on set-pieces.

Players would then spend some time in the gym. During downtime, some played golf while others preferred the increasingly popular padel tennis.

Oliver Arblaster, the highly impressive young midfielder returning from injury, spoke positively about his hope of being back for the start of the season.

Callum O'Hare and Harrison Burrows spoke of channelling play-off disappointment into an attempt to go one better this season.

The manager reiterated his desire to produce an "intense" style of play. All of the players we spoke to were complimentary of the manager's style after their first few weeks together.

Selles spoke confidently about keeping key players such as Gus Hamer and Michael Cooper. He also acknowledged that while money could be available for the right signing, United are mostly looking at loans and free agents at the moment.

Clearly new additions are necessary but it's in the loan and free window where the Blades have had a lot of success in their recent history.

The team returns to England on Saturday after one final session. They play York City in a friendly on Tuesday.