Gillingham players return from their summer breaks this week.

Boss Justin Edinburgh will be working the squad hard in an effort to get them off to a flyer when the campaign starts – just like last season.

Edinburgh said: “We have managed to keep the nucleus of the squad and we are looking forward to the start of the season, you always do.

“It’s exciting times and the next couple of weeks will be tough for the players, they know that.

“It is where you get the work put into your legs for the season. Last year we were a very fit side and we put in a lot of high-energy performances and we are looking to replicate that this season.”

The players will be undergoing fitness assessments when they return on Wednesday before endurance tests the following day and running sessions to end the week.

Edinburgh hopes to have added a couple of new faces to the ranks before they head out to France in the middle of July for a week’s training in Le Touquet. They hope to finish with a game before returning.

Gillingham’s first official pre-season matches back in England are in Essex with games at Braintree on Tuesday, July 19 and Billericay the following night. A visit to Martin Allen’s Barnet follows on Saturday, July 23.

Games against Dartford (July 26) and Leyton Orient (July 30) complete the schedule before the season opener in League 1 at Southend on August 6.