After missing out on last year's pre-season trip to Austria, Notts County's Stephen Hunt is desperate to make up for lost time.

County fly out to the National Sports Centre in Obertraun tomorrow morning for the second year running - and Hunt will be part of the squad making the trip abroad.

Last July the defender underwent surgery to solve a long-standing groin problem which sidelined him until December, ruling him out of the trip.

Fit and ready for action this year, he can't wait for the 'Austria Experience'.

He explained: "Throughout the last year a few of the lads have been talking about Austria and what happened out there.

"As well as the hard work it was a good team-bonding week for them and I was gutted to miss it to be honest.

"You do feel a bit lonely and left out; there is no question about that.

"I was at home doing my exercises and looking on the website every day to see what the lads were up to, even though it made me feel more miserable.

"I'm looking forward to this year and the hard work we will be working our way through.

"It will my first pre-season abroad as well, and it is fantastic for the club we can do something like this.

"We will have a change of scenery as well which is nice when you are slogging it out during the pre-season in the same place.

"I think it will make a big difference and we will all be together 24/7, so by the time we come back we will know a lot more about each other on and off the pitch."

Hunt is enjoying his first pre-season for two years and has revealed the squad have been put through a number of gruelling double sessions over the last ten days.

"Pre-season has been as tough as expected, without a doubt," he said.

"It is never easy and after missing last year's pre-season I was conscious to make sure I was in a good shape for when we got going last week.

"It is hard work for sure, but we all know we have to go through it for a reason and we're all focusing our efforts towards being on top of our game by 8 August when we play Bradford City at Meadow Lane."