David Villa has not been able to go with his team-mates on the tour of South America which Atlético de Madrid is currently undertaking. Villa, known as 'El Guaje', along with the three Uruguayan players in the squad and the two Spain U-20 internationals, is giving it his all in Madrid to reach complete physical fitness.

He is working very hard, but is still a long way from what the trainers are asking of him. Villa still has quite a long way to go.

His first objective is to get to the opening day of the league season and the final of the Spanish Super Cup. The double training sessions he is doing under Óscar Pitillas, therapeutic trainer at the club, are designed to get him match-fit in time.

As happened last season, Atlético de Madrid trainer Óscar Ortega, has drawn up a very demanding pre-season programme to give himself the maximum number of options for the first possibility of lifting some silverware. And perhaps it is this that is not in David Villa's favour - for if the idea of extra training was for him to reach peak form only in October (as happens in other squads) then he would have a lot more room for manoeuvre.

Villa has made no secret of how hard it is for him to reach the fitness level of his team-mates. "Coach, you're going to kill me", he said to Ortega.

The Super Cup beckons, and the number 9 is working flat out to be in shape. If he doesn't make it in time, it won't be for want of blood sweat and tears. 'El Guaje' is determined to start his new adventure at Atlético de Madrid on the right footing.