Leighton Baines says he is good shape physically ahead of the new Premier League campaign with Everton.
The full-back represented England at Euro2012 earlier this summer and was then given an extended break along with teammate Phil Jagielka.
The pair have now returned to training just two weeks out from the season opener against Manchester United at home on August 20 and Baines is confident he will be in top shape in time for the season kick-off.
"When your football has continued on past the end of the season, it's important that you get at least three or four weeks where you can rest and switch off, both physically and mentally. Then you come back ready to go," he told evertontv.
"I only took a week off to be honest. I figured it wouldn't be that long before I was back so I might as well stay in decent shape.
"You do that in the hope of avoiding injury more than anything. You get put through your paces when you come back in pre-season and there's a lot of stress put on your body. If you let yourself go too far, that's where you're going to get niggles and start missing important sessions.
"If you keep yourself up to scratch physically, you can get the full benefit when you start the season."
