Giann Magno says Derby County’s Under 18s will be given an insight into what it takes to make it to the next level during the club’s week-long training camp in Portugal.

The Rams’ First Team, Under 21s and 18s travel to the Algarve this Wednesday as the club’s age groups step up their preparations for the new 2016/17 season.

The first week of pre-season saw all three age groups endure regular double sessions, combining a mixture of fitness and football work.

Reflecting on the past week, Magno insists that Justin Walker and Rory Delap’s Under 18s have been working hard to make sure they are ‘tougher’ than they were in the 2015/16 season.

With a big year ahead of him, the midfielder, who is undertaking the second year of his scholarship with the club, says he has been working hard personally to try and be one of the fittest players in the squad.

He told Rams Player HD: “The first week has been tough, but to be successful this season, both individually and as a team, we need to be a lot tougher than we were last year.





“That’s what we are building towards. We can already feel it in our legs and hopefully it pays off.





“Compared to last year, in terms of running fitness, I need to be aiming higher. For example, we did the run around Allestree Park and I didn’t hit my time.





“Since then I have come in for extra sessions and worked closely with the Strength and Conditioning Coaches to make sure I am one of the fittest in the team.”

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That hard work will be taken to Portugal this week where the first set of pre-season games for all the age groups will also take place.

Magno says the trip will prove to be a big learning curve for the Under 18s squad and will present an early opportunity to impress Walker and Delap ahead of the new Barclays U18 Premier League – North season.

It’s the time together as a group, though, that the midfielder believes will prove to be just as beneficial.

He added: “We’re all really excited for that trip. It will be a good experience and I know for a fact that we will be working on a range of different excesses out there.





“Being under the heat and humidity will make the lads a lot fitter and stronger. The trip to Portugal is a good chance to learn a lot of new stuff and work on a few things for the season ahead.





“We have got a game out there too and that will be an early benchmark for the lads to try and get a place in the team.





“It’s big thing that all the age groups are out there together too. As an Under 18s group we will be able to not only watch the Under 21s but the first team too and see how they do things.





“We will be able to see how they operate on and off the pitch, see what they do for their recovery, for their meals, for their relaxation and this is a good opportunity to get an insight into what it takes to be at that level.”





On his past European experiences, Magno added: “Every time we go on a trip away it brings the group closer together.





“Last year, I didn’t get to go to Holland because of my injury, but that first year that we went to Iceland as the team that is together now, we achieved so much.





“We learned a lot and at the same time the team really bonded, which was massive for that whole season. Hopefully this trip to Portugal will have the same effect.”





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