Connor Smythe knows Worksop Town must keep up fitness levels

Connor Smythe knows Worksop must stay in shape. Pic by Lewis Pickersgill.

The left-back emphasised how essential it is that the Tigers begin brightly when they return to action next month.

“We know that as players, it is our responsibility to look after ourselves and come back in the best shape possible to hit the ground running,” said Smythe.

“The management have made it clear that this is what they expect from us, but as players, we should take that upon ourselves to make sure we stay fit.

“Luckily, I have access to a fitness suite, and it has been about finishing work and spending time in there each day to do a bit of running, some strength work, and some core work because it all adds up to increasing or maintaining that performance for when we come back.

“Before we finished, we had a few knocks in the team and I think a few players were playing through the pain barrier.

"So, if we turn the break into a positive, it should give everyone a chance to recover and for everybody else to maintain and build on their fitness levels of where we were at before lockdown.

“This will mean that come the start of December, that first month or two we can get off the blocks and add to our points tally.

“It has been hard, though, because you miss the matchdays on a weekend, and you miss the training sessions, the dressing rooms, the personnel around the club, players and people associated with the club; everyone is missing that feeling in their lives, and they cannot wait to get back.”

Smythe is in his second spell with the Tigers, originally playing for the club in 2014.

He added: “It has been a strange start to the season because you just start to get going, and then you get a decent run of games under your belt,” he continued.

“You start to feel fully match fit and then we have had to stop again, so that has been tricky, but I am personally happy with my performances this season so far.

“The last couple of games we have had clean sheets to build on because defensively, that is what we take pride in, but I am happy with how it has gone.”