Multimedia Editor Dane Vincent's first blog on the team's trip to Austria…

Good news, everyone managed the early wake-up call ahead of the 4.45am meet-up, albeit bleary eyed and fighting back the yawns.

Tiredness was highlighted by the fact that the atmosphere on the coach to Birmingham Airport remained largely subdued - the silence only broken by the tunes booming out of trialist goalkeeper David Grof's headphones.

Although the volume may have been hurting his ears - or at least should've been - it was his choice of songs that induced the pain in mine.

We arrived in Birmingham in time for our 6am check-in. A dissemination of tickets and plenty of equipment lugging later, we were on the flight, headed for Austria.

Upon landing we were greeted by the sweltering heat and my sympathies went out to the players, who would later be training in it.

Fortunately they had time to recharge their batteries, though this wasn't without its interruptions…

Subsequent to a healthy lunch I found Mansour Assoumani and Kevin Smith lurking at the reception desk with grins on their faces.

Laughing, Kevin explained that they had given a sleeping Neal Bishop and Graeme Lee a shock by bundling into their room, after being issued the same key by mistake.

At 4.20pm, following a powernap, we regrouped on the coach before heading over to SV Austria Salzburg's ground - the venue of the first fixture.

I felt drained just watching what seemed like an intense session beneath the glorious mountainous scenery.

However, Ben Burgess stated afterwards that this was only a light workout, so I dread to think what Fitness Coach Marcus Svensson has planned for them over the next week!

Footage from the first session is now available on Magpie Player, featuring an interview with Manager Craig Short.

We'll be having plenty more over the coming days, including highlights and reaction from tonight's game.