Julien Faubert is enjoying being back training with his West Ham United team-mates at their Austrian camp after dedicating his summer to working on his fitness.
The France international spent a large part of the close season at a specialist fitness centre in Italy in order to clock in for pre-season training in optimum condition. That dedication appears to be paying dividends with the 25-year-old impressing in both of West Ham United's pre-season games so far.
"I feel better as I worked during my holiday and lost some weight so I can run a lot. It was good work for me, for my colleagues," Faubert said. "I went to an Italian fitness centre where I lost four and a half kilos. After I came back I felt good."
That programme has helped Faubert's body prepare for the rigours of the intensive training and match schedule in Bad Radkersburg. After playing 45 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Flavia Solva on Wednesday, Faubert is now looking to feature against German giants Werder Bremen on Saturday.
"I am ready to play but I am a little bit tired and we train another two times on Friday," he said. "But pre-season is like this, we have to work and to push the level very high to get ready for the Premier League.
"The weather here is like Dubai - very hot with no wind. But it is good for the preparation of the players for when we go back to London. The game against Solva was good for the workout and a good run. It was like a training session so the result is nothing."
Faubert spent the final five months of the 2008/09 season on loan at European heavyweights Real Madrid. The experience of training with the likes of Iker Casillas, Fabio Cannavaro and Raul was a fascinating experience for the versatile performer.
"I'm happy to be back at West Ham. Madrid was a good experience, a big club and the training was very good like it is here. But I am happy to come back to West Ham. It is my third year and maybe I will stay, maybe I won't. I will try to do my best and we'll see what happens."