Whilst most of Fulham's playing staff are enjoying several weeks of well earned rest after another highly successful Premier League campaign, one player who is more than happy to remain at the Training Ground this summer is midfielder Steve Sidwell.
After enduring a difficult past few months interrupted by injury, Sidwell will spend this summer firmly focused on returning for pre-season in peak physical condition.
Sidwell admits he found his spell on the sidelines hugely frustrating but his absence from First Team action is fuelling his unquenchable desire to get back to work as quickly as possible.
"Last season was really hard because I had a good start to the campaign but suffered one of those freak injuries that can just happen," Sidwell told fulhamfc.com. "I'm not really the type of player to get injured so to be for so long was really tough.
"There were plenty of games last season when I played in pain and played well, but also games I played in and didn't do great.
"You have to be brave to yourself and decide whether to pull out or carry on, because people could be watching you and be thinking, 'he's not up to scratch' or 'he's not played well today', but not know what's going on in your body. That's when you've got to hold your hands up and do justice to yourself and the team.
"I'm really chomping at the bit now and I don't think you'll find a player out there at the moment that is so eager to get back to work and involved. I'm so nearly there now and hopefully that'll be the end of it. I should return fit and raring to go on the first day of pre-season.
"Obviously I'll have some time away with my family this summer and a break here and there but the majority of my time will be spent working hard at the Training Ground and getting myself ready for the new season.
"Sometimes you have to get yourself away from the Training Ground because you're doing the same routine and exercises in the same environment. Sometimes it's nice to get away but when I'm on a break with my family I'll still be going to the gym. It will be change of environment then back to work again."