Beppe Sannino has said the Watford players' physical condition and recovery times will be crucial this season after the players returned to pre-season training today.

The Hornets squad returned from their summer break yesterday and travelled to Italy for a three-week training camp.

Watford had a session this morning at the training ground of Udinese, another club owned by the Pozzo family.

The Golden Boys squad then went to Udinese's Friuli Stadium for medical and physical testing.

"We would like to thank Udinese for their hospitality," Sannino told the Italian club's website.

"We are happy to be training in the facilities of a first-level club in the Italian championship.

"A very long season is ahead of us and we want to give some satisfaction to those who have believed in us so far.

"Physical shape and recovery times are going to be very important this year, that is why we think this first phase of preparation is so fundamental in order to obtain good achievements in the future."