Kevin Amankwaah says he cannot wait for the start of the new campaign after returning to training ahead of the 2009/10 season.

Town kick-off the League One campaign at Gillingham on Saturday 8th August and the players were back at The County Ground for the start of pre-season training on Monday morning.

Amankwaah, who made 26 starts for Town in League One last term, is glad to be back.

"I feel good," he said. "The summer has gone pretty quickly but it's back to work now and it's great to be back and see all the lads again.

"The summer break gave me a chance to recharge the batteries after the season, but as a player you want to be back in amongst it and once pre-season is over the games can begin.

"Everyone says you don't enjoy pre-season training, but at the end of the day you have to be fit to play football and we know that all the hard work in pre-season will be worth it when the season comes around."

The defender was one of the first to undergo the fat test with Club Physiotherapist Dick Mackey and his medical team, and indicated that he is well rehearsed in pre-season preparations as he approaches his tenth season as a professional.

"The fat test seemed to go okay, although we don't know the results yet. Weight wise I seem to stay pretty much the same.

"I have been training right through the summer, keeping my fitness levels where they should be to tick over.

"We all had individual programmes so hopefully I can get straight back into it."