Ready Lee

LEE Cox relishes what pre-season has in store and believes that tough tests against the likes of Swansea City and Yeovil Town will benefit squad development.

The 24-year-old midfielder was John Sheridan’s first summer recruit following his release from Swindon Town and says he cannot wait to get going.

“Pre-season is really hard and it’s painful but I couldn’t wait to get back in and get started,” said Lee. “In pre-season you have got to aim to make yourself fitter and push yourself – I’m enjoying it.”

“We are doing a lot of testing, so I think it puts us in good stead to be tested towards the end of pre-season, which is always good.”

Challenging tests are exactly what Argyle will be getting in the build-up to the start of the competitive season, with Barclays Premier League Swansea and Sky Bet League 1 new boys Yeovil to contend with – but Cox is not fazed.

“It will be a big test for us and it will be brilliant for us because the teams we are playing are at a higher level for a reason, so it is going to be a good test of our fitness and ability; it will be interesting.

“I know of big players at the likes of Swansea and I can’t wait to play against them.”

The Leicester-born midfielder put pen to paper on a two-year-deal and hopes to stay injury free having had his loan spell at Argyle, in 2012-13, cut short due to a shoulder injury he sustained against local rivals Exeter City.

He said: “My aim is to keep fit and play to the best of my ability and then let everything else take care of itself.”