Daley aims to keep up the good work

The squad flew out to Las Vegas with their pockets full, but not just with cash to spend in the renowned gambling capital of the world as their treat for reaching the Promised Land.

The most important information in their luggage will be the individually tailored fitness programmes devised to ensure the players return for the start of pre-season training at the beginning of July ready to hit the ground running.

Daley said: "They've been given a programme just to keep them ticking over so they come back at a reasonable level of fitness.

"We don't expect them to come back as fit as they were while they were playing games during the season, but instead at a level where they will be able to start pre-season and go straight into some football work.

"They did it last year and came back extremely fit and we're hoping for the same again, especially as we're going into such a massive season for us all in the Premier League.

"It's important we do things right."

Players underwent various tests over the last two days at the Walsall campus of Wolverhampton University to check their speed, strength power and endurance with the results producing a profile of each player, to enable Daley and the medical staff to see which areas need more work than others.

He said: "The tests are not about checking up on the lads. It's just so we know what levels they are when they leave and what levels they are expected to be at when they return.

"They've had a tough, hard season and will go away and have a couple of weeks off. They've done a VO2 max test which is what they've done at the university.

"That's a test for their base endurance levels which gives us a record on what their levels are now, what they should be by the beginning of pre-season and what they should be by the end of pre-season. That means they know the targets required.

"At Compton we've done field tests, which include speed tests and repeat sprint tests where they go as quick as they can to see how fatigued they get.

"They also do agility tests looking at how quickly they can get around certain obstacles which is relevant to when they're playing as, of course, you never really run in a straight line.

"They do power and strength tests as well, jump tests, all of it gives us data which helps us to put together individually tailored programmes so they all know what they've got to work on.

"There might be a specific issue for a particular player to work on to also help prevent injury because the physios will also have given them certain pre-habilitation work.

"There may be certain exercises to do if a physio has spotted a particular weakness, to ensure we do everything we can to stop players picking up silly injuries and missing pre-season, which is so crucial."

It all sounds rather strenuous, especially for players who have just endured a gruelling 46-game season.

But Daley stressed rest is as important as training and there would be plenty of time for the former.

He said: "I must point out the players will have enough rest time as well.

"It's not about training every day, it's a system where they probably train two or three times a week for a short period of time to maintain a level of fitness which will give them a base when they come back.

"Some of the lads will still be playing at the beginning of June with internationals and their programmes will be different.

"They will still have just as much rest and recovery as the rest of the players because I can't stress enough that, while we're talking about testing, recovery is important as well.

"It's the best of both worlds because doing nothing for six or seven weeks would be foolhardy.

"It's about giving the players the recovery they need, but also ensuring they keep a base of fitness ready to come back for what will be another tough season."

Fitness played a fundamental part of Wolves' promotion with Mick McCarthy's side, often overpowering teams with blistering bursts of tempo.

But Daley modestly identifies his work as being merely a component of the overall preparation of players.

He said: "That's down to the dedication of all the staff from the fitness areas to the physios and, of course, management and coaches.

"It's a lot more than just the fitness part - it's everything put together and if one piece of the jigsaw doesn't fit then it doesn't happen.

"If the coaching's not right and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake can't put the ball in the back of the net, it doesn't matter how fit he is.

"They do all work extremely hard though to ensure they make the best out of their abilities."

Daley admits the players air their gripes about the workload – but they always do what's required, and more.

He said: "The players do have the odd moan and they can moan at me until the cows come home – that's part and parcel of being a footballer!

"But they have all got it done and in the two seasons I've been here it's been an absolute pleasure. They have to buy into it and if it wasn't working then they wouldn't.

"They can see that it pays dividends, especially on the strength side.

"Some of them might want a 'body beautiful' but first of all they're in that gym to help them perform at their best – to assist the abilities they've got."