AS CHARLTON prepare for a crucial new Championship season, the club's first team squad has been put through its paces at the University of Greenwich.

After returning from their summer breaks, players reported to the university's Department of Sports & Exercise Science to undergo a series of tests designed to evaluate their fitness levels.

Looking on with interest was Niall Clark, the club's performance manager, who could compare the results with information gathered after May's 4-1 win against Coventry City, the club's final game of last season.

He said: "The week after the Coventry game, the players were in here for testing of their power and endurance, body fat, anaerobic and aerobic levels as well as their lactic thresholds, building a good overall picture of where they are at the end of the season.

"That is the gold standard, a benchmark we need to get them back to."

After an arduous 10-month season, most footballers will hit the beach for some rest and relaxation.

The body, however, loses fitness very quickly if it is inactive and there is an eight-week gap between the final game of the season and the start of pre-season training.

Clark added: "They need two or three weeks rest to allow the endocrine system time to recuperate and for the other five or six weeks, they have an individually-tailored fitness programme.

"This information tells me whether they've adhered to it.

"The biggest surprise is how well they have adhered to it, but the modern footballer is far more educated about what is needed than when I was starting out in sports science 10 years ago."

Players arriving at the lab had their metabolic resting profile and heart rate assessed, before beginning a gentle to moderate session running on the treadmill, stopping every three minutes for a small blood sample to be taken and analysed.

Following this, their explosive power was tested with a set of jumps on a pressure pad.

Dr Monem Jemni, principal lecturer in sports and exercise science, said: "We have excellent facilities for assessing the physiological parameters of the players. "Bioenergetics, immunology, strength and power, blood analysis, all this helps us to find a proper profile of each player from the point of view of fitness.

"Blood samples allow us to assess the energetic pathway of the metabolism."

He added: "We are also looking at the levels of lactic acid they produce which in turn is a reflection of the fatigue experienced.

"Contrary to what used to be thought, the fittest players will produce very high levels of lactic acid after intensive exercise.

"The longer an individual can operate with high levels, without it affecting them, the better as it shows they have an efficient system and good stamina. The results will help Niall to accurately plan individual fitness programmes for each player."

Charlton captain Matt Holland said: "Coming back after the summer, it's interesting to gauge where you are in terms of fitness.

"As players we've always been tested in some form, but football has changed.

"It's becoming an athlete sport and information like this is vital for a competitive edge."