- Leicester City’s stars are looking sharp in training at Belvoir Drive, according to midfielder James Maddison
- Maddison spoke to LCFC TV following a recent training session with his team-mates
- City's players are currently adhering to the safety procedures in accordance with the Premier League’s Return to Training Protocol
- The Foxes are set to resume their season at Watford on Saturday 20 June (12:30pm kick-off)
City’s fourth week of training includes a step up in preparations for their scheduled match against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday 20 June, providing all safety requirements are in place.
The clash in Hertfordshire will see Foxes play for the first time since March, when Premier League football was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maddison told LCFC TV following a recent training session: “It's been brilliant. It's been fantastic, actually. I mean, all the lads have just got smiles on their faces from ear to ear because it's been a tough few months, you know, for everyone in the world.
“We're not just talking about ourselves, it's been tough for everyone, so to get back in the routine and doing what we love, it's been brilliant.
“We're fortunate enough to have a job that we love. It's almost like a hobby. Growing up, it turns into a job, so every day is living the dream for us.
“Sometimes, maybe, we don't take it for granted, but when you can't do what you want, what you love every day, and it gets taken away from you like it did, you kind of realise how much you appreciate the life that we live, and it's been fantastic to see everyone.”
One of the squad’s main challenges was to maintain a base level of fitness while not in Premier League action, and Maddison says City’s stars are focused on ensuring their preparation is thorough ahead of their return to competitive football.
Maddison said: “It has similarities and differences because it has similarities in the fact that the sessions were absolutely horrible at first because you're doing running and getting the fitness back into the legs!
“But that's just all part of it. That's our job. That's what we get paid to do. But it has differences in the fact that we're going to go straight into a Premier League game without having a load of friendlies, without the table being everyone at zero.
“So, it does have a different feel to it. It's almost been paused and it's resuming like it has. It does have a weird feel to it, but like you said, the lads look really sharp.
“They've come back in such great condition, it's brilliant to see how well they've kept themselves over the period, because some people can get lazy and not do so much when you don't have to actually be here every day, but the lads are in tip top condition and raring to go.”