PHIL Parkinson says he is pleased by the fitness levels within his squad after Charlton’s players returned for pre-season today.

The manager was joined by assistant boss Mark Kinsella at Sparrows Lane this morning as the Addicks began their preparations for the League One campaign, which gets under way against Wycombe on August 8.

Parkinson said: “It was very good and the players were excellent.

“We had them monitored over the summer and they came in earlier this month for some tests, so we already knew they had been looking after themselves.

“Everyone is back in again tomorrow and then they will have the weekend off.”

Parkinson also denied recent speculation linking Chelsea with a move for highly-rated midfield ace Jonjo Shelvey.

“Jonjo is a superb athlete and was excellent today, just as you would expect of him,” he added.

“There is no truth in the Chelsea story that I know of and it is just paper talk.”