Ross County midfielder Jordan Tillson feels the Staggies can benefit from their extended pre-season come the start of the Premiership campaign.
Top-flight clubs were yesterday given the green light to start their season from August 1, with County starting with a home match against Motherwell on August 3.
The Staggies have also been given the go-ahead to play bounce matches behind closed doors, with manager Stuart Kettlewell confirming earlier this week County had provisionally scheduled a game for today pending government approval.
The opposition has not been revealed, with Kettlewell also hopeful of taking his squad away for a short training camp, potentially to Ireland.
With County having been among the first clubs to return to training on June 11, Tillson hopes the Dingwall outfit can capitalise.
Tillson said: “Pre-season sets you up for the whole year. It’s good to start laying some foundations for how we are going to play in the coming season.
“With that extra bit of time, it’s going to benefit everyone.
“After having such a long time off, it’s probably going to take a little bit longer than it would do if we had just a normal off-season.
“It’s nice just to be back training and be around everyone.”
Englishman Tillson joined the Staggies from Exeter City in January, and made eight appearances before the season was cut short due to coronavirus.
After finalising the deal to bring Tillson to Dingwall, Kettlewell spoke of the 27-year-old as a player who could “cover a multitude of tasks in the middle of the pitch.”
Tillson will face added competition from on-loan Rangers midfielder Stephen Kelly, along with Ross Draper, Iain Vigurs, Harry Paton and Joe Chalmers.
Tillson, who began his career as a central defender with Exeter, will feel comfortable with any role he is asked to play.
Tillson said: “In the first few games after I came up to Ross County, I played in the higher midfield role. I played there against Celtic.
“Then in the last game I played, against Rangers at our ground, I played in a deeper role.
“Whatever the manager asks of me, I’ll do for him. I’m quite easy on that one.
“I even played as a centre half when I first began my career. We had a lot of injuries in midfield and I got thrown in there and never came back.
“It really stuck and that is my position now and I thoroughly enjoy playing there.”
