“He always does this. Because we have to work so bloody hard over Christmas, they let us have a do on the first international weekend of the year.”
Many footballers in the Premier League played for their national side. Unfortunately, Brockton didn’t have any players who were on the consideration list. So it generally meant that they had the weekend off. Noah had been planning on visiting Malcolm. Why not do both?
“What’s the theme, Skipper?” Ewen asked.
Adam had a glint in his eye. “It’s a pyjama party.”
“In January?” Tito asked. “It will be freezing.”
“Depends what you wear to bed, Lopes,” Adam replied.
Tito shrugged. “Nothing usually.”
“Then I’d suggest you buy something a little warmer.”
The others all laughed and jeered at Tito, who answered them with a huge grin. Nothing seemed to affect him.
“Maybe I will,” Tito replied. “Or perhaps I’ll come in the nude.”
“I’ll crank up the heating,” Adam said. “Right you lot. Enough of hiding away in here. I want you all on the touchline in five minutes.”
Ewen groaned. “What for? We’ve done the outside stuff for the day.”
Adam ruffled his hair.
“Oi,” Ewen cried. “Less of it.”
Ewen hated people messing with his hair above anything else. His hairstyle was his pride and joy.
“Don’t cry. A few laps of the pitch will have more of an impact than fannying around on an exercise bike. Let’s move.”
With varying degrees of misery, they all followed the captain through the corridors and out onto the pitch. The rain still hammered down.
“If we catch a cold, the boss will be after your bollocks,” Tito grumbled.
“Whose idea do you think it was?” Adam replied. “If you’ve got any complaints, let him know.”
“I will.”
Adam pointed to one of the windows in the training facility. Javier and assistant manager, Steven Cox were standing there. Adam gave them a wave.
“How about you get your laps done first?” Adam asked. “Then you can raise your issues with them.”
Noah sidled up to Tito. “I think you might as well give up.”
“This would never happen at Liverpool.”
Ewen was on the other side of them. “Tito. I don’t think you’re in Liverpool anymore.”
Tito stuck out his tongue. Before he could come up with a suitable response, Adam set off jogging along the perimeter of the training pitch. The others had no choice but to follow.
Noah found himself next to Goran. The goalkeeper at Brockton as well as his official Brockton buddy. When Noah, Tito and Jonas had joined the squad, Javier had paired them up with veteran players to help with the settling in process. Noah liked Goran very much. He had invited him to his home on more than one occasion.
“Tito tells me you finally got an architect?” Goran asked.
“Word travels fast.”
“It does when that gobshite is involved. Are you excited?”
