Peterhead striker Derek Lyle has headed to the hills to help ensure that he is fit and ready for his 22nd season as a senior player.
Lyle has started a gruelling fitness programme that includes running up the Campsie Hills close to his home and Blue Toon boss Jim McInally reckons that the front-man will be in great condition to secure a deal that will take him past his 40th birthday in February.
The striker who scored more than 100 goals for Queen of the South during three stints at the club, has also played for Partick Thistle, East Stirling, Stirling Albion, Dundee, Hamilton Accies, Morton and Cowdenbeath during a career that started in 1999 is well known for his approach to fitness and his s new daily regime was no surprise to McInally.
The Balmoor manager said: “Derek has taken great care of himself right throughout his career and he has not been scared to try new things to keep himself in shape.”
“He was one of the first players I had heard of who took up boxing to improve his fitness so it is no surprise in the absence of somewhere to work that he is now running up mountains.”
McInally added: “The lockdown has been frustrating for Derek as he is no longer training with us and the extra work that he was doing with Queen of the South. Gyms are closed, his work is closed and doing 5k or 10k runs is not enough for him.”
“I am delighted that he has come up with a way to keeping himself fit even if it is a bit unusual. He checks in with our fitness coach Stuart Hogg over what his targets should be and Stuart is delighted with the work Derek is doing.”
“Derek did a great job for us last season when he was leading our attacking line and once things get back to some sort of normality, he knows that I want to know his plans are for next season.”
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