Tough training in Austria

West Ham United's players continued their pre-season training in the Austrian village of Bad Radkersburg on Tuesday.

The whole first-team squad travelled to the training facility one kilometre from the hotel, with the majority of the group opting to make use of the free bike hire for the short trip. Once there, only Valon Behrami and Scott Parker missed the session. Instead, the pair worked intensively on their own programmes with the fitness and conditioning coaches.

Luis Jimenez looked sharp in his second training session with his new team-mates, playing an influential role during the practice match at the end. Experienced heads like Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer also looked in good shape as they trained alongside youngsters Oliver Lee, Anthony Edgar and Georg Grasser.

Tuesday's training began with fitness coach Antonio Pintus leading the squad through a thorough warm-up with stretching and strength exercises for the core muscle groups.

Then, for the main part of the session, the squad was split in two. Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke worked on an advanced passing and moving routine that concluded with the players taking shots at goal - with the manager filling the slightly unfamiliar role of goalkeeper!

Elsewhere, reserve team manager Alex Dyer worked mainly on a passing and moving routine with the players in his half of the pitch.

The coaching staff will put the players through their paces once more on Tuesday afternoon as they step up preparations for the first game of the tour - a friendly with Austrian Regionalliga side SV Flavia Solva in Wagna on Wednesday evening.

That fixture could to see Jimenez make his debut for the Hammers, while Matthew Upson, Robert Green, Carlton Cole, Savio and Luis Boa Morte could all make their first appearances of the pre-season campaign.

Click here for an exclusive photo gallery of today's training session.