Tom Ince says this coming week is all about ‘ramping it up’ as Derby County prepare for their final pre-season fixtures this week.

Nigel Pearson’s side face Sky Bet League 1 outfits Chesterfield, for Shane Nicholson’s testimonial, and Sheffield United on Tuesday and Wednesday night respectively, before heading to Germany to face Karlsruher SC for their final pre-season fixture before the 2016/17 campaign.

After facing Portuguese giants Benfica, the Rams got their account up and running last Saturday with a 2-0 win over League 1 play-off semi-finalists Walsall at the Banks’s Stadium.

Following that victory, Ince has been speaking about the gruelling schedule that he and the rest of the squad have been undertaking to make sure they are ready for when they face Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day of the campaign on Saturday 6 August, kick-off: 3pm.

The 24-year-old wideman revealed that Pearson, the Derby manager, felt his squad needed to be stronger, both physically and mentally.

Ince told Rams Player HD: “I don’t really like the running, but you have to do it!





“It’s been great to see the lads back, though, and get back to the reality and proving your fitness. It’s been a strong one so far.





“This manager feels we need to be stronger, both physically and mentally, and we have got a week now to really show that. We need to be hitting the ground running.”

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With that, Ince also says there is a strong competition across the group for a place in the starting XI on the opening day of the season, adding: “Everyone in a way is in competition but that’s healthy.





“You want a squad of players that is fighting for each other, but also fighting against each other for a place in the starting XI.





“Everyone is in great shape, which has been backed up by the lads that have come back from the Euros and we are starting to ramp it up now.





“We have got two games this week and then a flight to Germany, before we are building up for the Brighton game.”

On a personal note, Ince says he is also enjoying pre-season and feels he has had a ‘strong’ couple of weeks back at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby.

Like the squad, he is aiming to keep building on the progress he has made so far over this coming week.

“I am just really happy to play my part for the team and get minutes on the pitch,” he added.





“I have got to work hard to play whatever position the manager wants me to and I know I have to give my all.





“My job is to create and score goals, but also be a work horse as well. I’m enjoying pre-season.





“I feel like I have had a strong start to it, I feel fit and I feel stronger. Now, I just need to take that into this week.”





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