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Schoenmaker: "Hard Work For Everyone"
Written by Newcastle Utd
Head of fitness Alessandro Schoenmaker believes United are in the "ideal" place for a rigorous training camp
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Head of fitness Alessandro Schoenmaker believes Newcastle United are in the "ideal" place for a rigorous training camp, as he explained what the next few days will entail.
No sooner had the Magpies arrived in La Manga on Wednesday, they were out on the training pitch, going through the first session of what promises to be an intense period of work.
And for Schoenmaker, who has worked with head coach Steve McClaren at FC Twente, Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest and Derby County, there is nowhere better.
"I have been here three times before, including with FC Twente the year we won the championship under Steve," he told nufc.co.uk.
"In terms of facilities and environment it is very good and the temperature is better than at home.
"The pitches are good and we are going to get a good game on Saturday - they are the most important things.
"It is ideal because it is not too far. Instead of going to Dubai or Qatar, which is much more flight-time, different time zones and a very hot temperature, we have a great base here."
Schoenmaker also outlined the benefits of this week, as he and the rest of United's staff prepare for the crucial final 12 games of the 2015/16 campaign.
"It is a really important week for us. Some teams may give players extra days off but this is a week of hard work for us," he said.
"This week should see a few people get back training with the group, like Vurnon (Anita) and Siem de Jong.
"There is a game at the end of the week (against Lillestrom) for players to get more minutes and keep playing. It's about maintaining their match fitness in this gap before we play Stoke City.
"This is always a good time to get the group together, do extra work on the training pitch and in the gym, and with a game at the end of it.
"Some of the players will have extra sessions, especially those who haven't played too much in the last few weeks, but it will be hard work for everyone."
Wednesday's session saw Schoenmaker spend extra time going through drills with Siem de Jong, who has been sidelined for the last month following a nasty eye injury.
But the Dutch international is on his way back to full fitness and nearly ready to be involved in full sessions.
"Siem has been very unlucky with his eye injury," continued Schoenmaker.
"For three weeks he wasn't able to do any work, and he has now had one full week of training with me, both outside and in the gym.
"This week he will be introduced back into the group, starting with no contact but by the end of the week it will be full contact."