YORK City's first team have returned to training with club captain Chris Brass hailing the players' physical fitness, writes Peter Martini.

The squad were back at a sweltering Wigginton Road training complex for the first time since the close-season yesterday, to begin preparations for a planned promotion push in the new term.

And Brass has been delighted with the players' discipline of the past two months.

"Everybody seems to have looked after themselves fitness-wise and diet-wise over the summer. It's impressed me," he told the Evening Press.

"The manager sent out fitness regimes of what exercises to do and what is expected of us, and everyone seems to have stuck to them."

He added: "It was a much-needed break and hopefully it's helped us to prepare ourselves for the new challenge."

The 25-year-old joined City on a free from Burnley in March and was soon made captain in the absence of the now departed Steve Agnew. He has since been handed the armband permanently - but hopes he won't have to lift the team too often.

"It's in my nature sometimes that I do scream and shout when things aren't going right but you've got to make sure it's constructive and not just for the sake of it. Hopefully things will go well and I can stay quiet and not have to shout and bawl."

He added: "Everything will be based on the successes of the team and hopefully I can influence that in a good way. There's nothing better than being captain and having success."

Brass, who holidayed in Portugal during the break, is now looking forward to getting into pre-season.

"You've got to gradually get your fitness and when you work you've got to work hard, but you can't over-push things and you have to make sure everybody stays fit," said the defender-cum-midfielder.

"We've got to make sure that come 3pm on August 11 we all feel 100 per cent and like a coiled spring."

As for the new campaign, he said: "You always go into a new season with the aim of promotion.

"We've got to make sure we make a much improved start compared to last season, as whoever makes a good start is usually up there towards the latter stages.

"There are some very good players at City - they've showed that in the time I've been here. I've been impressed with their attitude and ability, and I'm really looking forward to the new season."

Updated: 11:30 Friday, July 06, 2001