Ross County manager Jim McIntyre expects the Staggies’ week-long training camp in Hungary to be crucial for his five new signings.
The Dingwall side will today return to the Globall football park on the outskirts of Budapest, where they spent seven days last summer.
McIntyre has already been busy in the summer transfer window, having secured goalkeeper Aaron McCarey, defenders Erik Cikos, Kenny van der Weg and Jay McEveley and midfielder Christopher Routis.
The Staggies manager is confident the trip to Hungary will speed up the settling process of his new recruits, and he said: “When we go away, players enjoy training in nice circumstances and nice weather when the pitches are immaculate.
“Everything about the facility is top-notch, from the food to the organisation, to being on-site to the games that are arranged.
“Longer-term, with a trip like this, we really see the benefits down the line in fitness but also in the integration of new squad members.
“When we have a few new signings, living away together in each other’s pocket means they get to know the person as well as the player. That’s really important.”
County play their first pre-season fixture on Tuesday when they face Paksi, who finished seventh in the Hungarian top-tier last term, before taking on second-tier outfit Soroksar SC, who shared a 1-1 draw with the Highlanders last year, on Friday.
McIntyre is pleased with the level of opposition he has lined up, insisting he is looking for his side to be put to the test.
He added: “They will both be very tough opponents, very good technically, with a presence about them as well.
“Hungarian football is definitely on the rise – and it’s a very good standard, they are technically very good.
“They will be really tough tests, but for me it is just about getting minutes under the belt and getting the legs going again and the decision-making process sharpened up.
“They will be sharp, quick, so we know we will be in for really tough matches and that’s what I want. I’m not looking for matches where we will beat a team five or six.
“It will be a really difficult work-out. I don’t care about scores – I’m not interested in that. I’m just interested in getting my players through pre-season, fit and healthy and ready to go.”
