Ennis looking to maintain momentum

Niall Ennis has set his sights on carrying last season’s form into the upcoming campaign, having trained with the first-team over the past week.

The striker played an integral role in Rob Edwards’ under-23 team earning promotion to the Premier League 2 Division 1 last term, firing crucial goals, including one in the title-winning game at Manchester United. Ennis checked in at St George’s Park last week for a pre-season camp under Nuno Espirito Santo, featuring in Friday’s friendly with Huddersfield Town, and is determined to maintain his own personal momentum.

On being back

“It’s good to be back. I had a good break but it’s time to get back to work and play the sport that I love.

“I’m excited, I just want to keep that momentum and that form I had last season, and you never know what this season will bring.

“Hopefully I can get a good pre-season to carry me into the season.”

On being in the first-team group

“You have to lift your standards, not just on the pitch, but off it too. You have to be more mature.

“Even on the pitch, it brings your quality out and you have to be at the standard because you don’t want to look out of place.

“It was good (St George’s Park). Obviously, I know the facilities because I was in the England youth set-up and you can see the pitches are a good quality to start the season.”

On the transition from Academy

“The club wants to make the youth set-up similar to the first-team, as we saw last season, the under-23s had a similar formation, so you can move from the under-23s to the first-team and know the set-up.

“It makes it easier because you already know what way to play because the whole club has the same philosophy.

“I’m kind of used to it because obviously in the past I’ve been around the first-team a lot during pre-seasons, which has helped me this time, but you just have to be yourself and not change for anyone.

“I’m here for a reason so I’ve got to make sure I keep to myself and hopefully I can bring my qualities.”