Ben Gladwin says he has enjoyed his first week's training with QPR

Gladwin joined the R's from Swindon Town in the summer

The midfielder is looking forward to the opening pre-season fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk

BEN Gladwin has had no trouble settling into life at QPR, thanks to the welcoming nature of his new team-mates.





Gladwin joined the R’s from Swindon Town this summer, and with his first week of pre-season training behind him, the 23 year-old says he can now concentrate on his football with his mind at rest.









GETTING INTO THE GROOVE: Gladwin is settling in well at QPR





“I am really enjoying it,” he told www.qpr.co.uk. “It’s a great bunch of boys here and it has been really easy to settle in. Now I am just concentrating on getting fit.





“Once the first week is out of the way it puts your mind at rest. Before you’ve come in, you’ve not met anyone so obviously there’s a little bit of nerves, but it has been really easy to get involved with the boys and the banter, and now I can concentrate on the football.”





Head Coach Chris Ramsey gave the squad a welcome surprise on Thursday with the footballs coming out nice and early, and Gladwin admitted: “Pre-season hasn’t been too dissimilar to Swindon, because Chris obviously likes to play football and do everything with the balls, which really suits me.





“We have been doing a few tough runs but it has been really good so far.”









GETTING FIT: The squad have been pleased to see the footballs come out early at Harlington





Much of the training in the opening week revolved around footballing sessions, which incorporated running drills, and Gladwin admitted: “When they explain what we have to do, it doesn’t sound too bad, but then halfway through it you find yourself blowing!





“But anything with a football I’m sure all the boys would prefer, so it has been really good.”





The R’s first-team squad travel out to northern Italy on Thursday, ahead of their opening pre-season friendly against Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk. And it’s a fixture Gladwin is excited by.









EAGER TO PLAY: Gladwin is looking forward to the pre-season opener against Shakhtar Donetsk





“It’s not a bad first one, is it?” he said. “It will be a little but different to the pre-seasons I’ve had previously so I’m really looking forward to it.





“It will be good to show people who haven’t see too much of me an idea of what I do.





“There is an element of proving yourself to the dressing room. Obviously everyone wants to know what you’re about when you’re a new face that has come in, but I’m confident in what I can do.”





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