Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is hoping the disappointment of missing out on the Under-21 European Championships this summer will be softened by being in tip-top condition for the start of the new season in the Barclays Premier League.

Last season's top scorer and indeed Championship Player of the Year didn't make it to the squad for the championships in Sweden, and given England's eventual lack of strikers for Monday's final with Germany could have had a role to play.

But after speaking to coach Stuart Pearce prior to the squad announcement in the summer, it was agreed he wouldn't be selected due to a series of niggling injury problems.

A period of rest and recuperation has prompted an improvement in those problems and Sylvan is feeling refreshed and ready at the launch of pre-season.

"I'm fine - I'm doing pre-season so I'm back and it's just a case of getting fit again and into the swing of things," he says.

"Only time will tell about the decision in the summer but looking at myself mentally and physically, I feel refreshed and ready to go again.

"The important thing for me was to come back and be ready to go again, which is how I feel now.

"I wasn't going to be selected simply because of the injuries leading up to the end of the season.

"I had a number of injuries before I went away after playing a lot of games last season and there was a risk of coming back for pre-season injured and missing out on pre-season, which is my bread and butter and a massive part of the build-up to the season.

"It was a decision we all came to and agreed on - neither party thought it would be beneficial for me to go and send me back injured which could have set me back for pre-season."

As to the work itself, it's been heavy going for the team doing double and treble sessions in the stifling heat this week but all beneficial.

"It's a tough part of the year but it's all part and parcel of the game," added Sylvan.

"At the minute, I'm doing everything so as far as I'm concerned, I'd do it again.

"It's not nice training hard in the sun but I'd hate to wish for bad weather.

"I don't want to complain - we don't get enough of it anyway - we've got to step ourselves up a level and what we're doing will help.

"Some might say it's a gradual step-up! But it's been steady so far - it's all scientific and structured, it's not just crazy running. It's been tough but it's been good."

"Now I'm on the trip to Australia, which I'm really looking forward to."