STOCKPORT County boss Jim Gannon has been working his players hard in preparation for the new season, according to defender Gareth Owen.

County are currently in the middle of a three-day bonding trip in Ireland but before they went Gannon and his fitness team put the first-team squad to work.

"It has been tough," admitted Owen, who completed a permanent move to Stockport last month after spending last season on loan at Edgeley Park from Oldham Athletic.

"Last week was particularly hard. There has been a lot of leg work and a lot of weights.

"But the gaffer has chucked in the odd game of five-a-side to keep the lads buzzing and the quality has been good. It's been hard but enjoyable."

One new signing who did not make it across the Irish Sea with Gannon's squad was former Macclesfield striker Matty McNeil, who picked up a stomach bug.

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And midfielder Gary Dicker suffered a knee injury in training last week and so wasn't risked in the Hatters' first summer friendly against former club UCD in Dublin.

Right-back Rob Clare has been told to rest for a month and defender Michael Bowler, who missed several months of last season through injury, is out again with a knee problem.

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