Rooney ups intensity in hunt for rare Argyle victory

Wayne Rooney says he has upped the intensity of Plymouth Argyle's training ahead of the busy Christmas period.

The Pilgrims host Middlesbrough on Saturday having won just once in their last 11 games - including losing their last four games in succession.

It has left Argyle second-from-bottom of the Championship, although Rooney's side do have a game in hand on the teams around them.

"We've actually stepped the training up to train harder," Rooney told BBC Radio Devon.

"I feel it's really important from now until mid-January that we step the training up because that gives your body a resilience to try and prevent injuries.

"We're trying different things to make sure we get the players in the right condition to get through the next three weeks."

After Middlesbrough, Argyle travel to Coventry City on Boxing Day and Oxford United on 29 December.

They will host Bristol City on New Year's Day before a long trip to Stoke City three days later.

"I spoke to the players and I feel it's something we need to step up," added Rooney.

"Yesterday we trained a lot harder then we normally would on that day because this time next week we'll be playing a game.

"We have to get our players' bodies into a shape and routine that they're ready for that hit every three or four days going up towards mid-January really, to give them that almost mini pre-season to get them through to the end of the season."