The training pitches were ready, too, thanks to groundstaff Daniel Lewis and Mark Ashworth, though our photographer Sharon Latham actually discovered the boys had been forking and mowing the all-weather pitch adjacent to the grass pitches for ten minutes before the sleep cleared from their eyes. Only joking - the Blues have the best in the business when it comes to pitch preparation. As a former Sky Sports presenter once said, “Take a bow, sons!”
That wasn’t the only mowing go on, as England defender Micah Richards nipped into the barbers - doubling as Chappy’s kit room - for a quick short, back and sides. Looking sharp, Micah - and how come the hairdresser looks so cool, too? Haircut, sir?
At last it was time to get out and blow away a few cobwebs and, as ever, every kick was played out under the watchful eyes of those eight foot-tall photographers - we’ve checked this out and they aren’t stood anything on the other side of that fence. These guys are specially farmed at lab near Colchester - rumours are Peter Crouch escaped and is still on the run.
The session was full-on, but there’s always time for a smile - or a wheelbarrow race as demonstrated by Atillio Lombardo and Fausto Salsano. Aleksandar Kolarov (far left) watches on in readiness for the three-legged race and the egg and spoon sprint after lunch.
The session ends on a high with a gang-style low five between Michael Johnson and Brian Kidd. Respect is due. Great day all round...
