QPR head to Italy on Thursday for a nine-day tour

Jamie Mackie talks about the importance of this part of pre-season

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JAMIE Mackie believes the R’s pre-season training camp to Italy, which commences tomorrow, will be ‘massive’ for the new players within the squad.





Chris Ramsey’s side head to Stresa on Thursday afternoon for a nine-day tour that includes friendly fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk, AS Monaco and Al Ittihad.





And Mackie insists the importance of the trip can’t be underestimated.





“Italy will be massive for the squad, especially for the new lads who have come into the group,” he told www.qpr.co.uk.





“Bedding players in and getting the lads to gel is vitally important and pre-season training camps seem to bring everyone closer together.





“I can remember my first pre-season here and the trip to Italy we had then under Neil Warnock was massive for me personally, and for the other new lads that came into the club that summer.





“It’s where relationships are built and where the camaraderie of the squad comes together.





“The sooner the new lads settle - and to be honest I think they'll tell you they already feel at home - the better.





“The atmosphere we've got at this club right now will ensure the new lads settle in right away - there's no doubt about that.”









TRAINING: Jamie Mackie at Harlington on Tuesday morning





Mackie is champing at the bit for the R’s first fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk on Saturday, but admits the concept of ‘friendly fixtures’ doesn’t sit too well with him, adding: “I'm looking forward to the first game, to pull the QPR shirt on again.





“Training is all well and good, and it's hugely important, but as players you just want the matches to come around as quickly as possible.





“I find the pre-season games difficult, because there's not that carat of having three points at stake.





“But, as players, you've got to look towards the end goal - and that's making sure we're all at our peak come the start of the season.”





The 29-year-old has enjoyed his first 10 days back in pre-season training and he’s been impressed with the set-up under Ramsey’s watch.





“It's brilliant to be back. There's still a lot of familiar faces here from my first spell,” he said.





“It's great to be back on the training ground.









“I've worked with so many different coaches on my travels as a player, and you tend to take different things from each of them.





“I love training, it's a big part of my game in terms of preparation.





“Training has been good under Chris. He's very hands-on and that can only be good for the players here.





“It's nice that the balls are out early, I think that's changed over the years, and as players we’ve become accustomed to that now.





“The quality of the work we've done so far has been great.”





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