SUMMER signing Chris Hussey believes the Swindon Town squad will reap the benefits of their training camp in Portugal – both individually and as a unit.

Full-back Hussey, who is one of nine new faces to arrive at the County Ground during the transfer window after agreeing a season-long loan switch from Championship side Sheffield United, and the rest of the Town players were scheduled to return from a five-night trip yesterday.

After an initial three-week training block in Wiltshire, manager David Flitcroft did not waste the chance to up the ante in pre-season while Town were away, with the squad put through plenty of gruelling sessions.

As well as physical boost for the players, Hussey is sure the trip will strengthen their togetherness as a group as the countdown to the season proper in Town’s League Two opener at Carlisle United on August 5 draws ever nearer.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Hussey said: “The whole week has been pretty tough. I’ve enjoyed it but these trips are always tough.

“We’ve been doing an upper body session every day, plus double training sessions in the morning and afternoon, so it has been intense and the lads are shattered.

“Being together as a team is crucial and everyone has been bonding together this week.

“It has been good to all be together, you can enjoy each other’s company and everyone gets to know each other.

“You can feel that togetherness already and everyone gets on with everyone, you can go into anyone’s room and speak to anyone, there are no cliques and everyone is together.

“You need that to be successful and the gaffer emphasises that.

“It has been a positive week on all fronts. Everyone looks good in training and it has been a really good week.”

Town will return to training back in Wiltshire this week, with their next scheduled pre-season friendly not until Saturday when they travel to National League side Woking.

However, prior to departing for Portugal, Flitcroft had been working on plans to add additional behind-closed-doors matches ahead of that contest.