Walsall players put to the test in demanding pre-season camp - PICTURES and VIDEO

The Saddlers squad travelled up to the Lake District on Sunday to take part in a series of tasks designed to test both their physical and mental capabilities.

Upon arrival the players were tasked with a series of complex puzzles aimed at forging team-spirit and communication skills.

Then yesterday their fitness levels were pushed to the maximum in series of relentless and pain-staking fitness exercises.

The boot camp, run by Cassius Camps,was set up to help test and improve the mental and physical performance of professional athletes.

Founder Phil Ercolano stresses the course is reliant on team-mates motivating and supporting one another with the overall aim to build strong relationships that are only normally replicated over an extended period of time.

An intense warm-up session saw the players compete against one another with Joe Edwards winning a push up challenge, Simeon Jackson completing the most squats and Kieron Morris beating his team-mates in a triceps challenge.

That was then followed by a gruelling obstacle course in which the players had to lift logs, overhaul giant tyres and carry bags of sand.

Split into groups of defence, midfield and attack – Edwards produced the fastest time with Jackson, Flo Cuvelier and Luke Leahy closely behind.

Incredibly the players were then set the challenge of running up a Lake District mountain – with youngster Callum Cockerill-Mollett impressively reaching the summit first.

After a brief break for lunch, the Sadders were then pushed to the limits again in an afternoon session.

A run – won by Leahy – was followed by the players having to ‘piggy-back’ their team-mates up yet another steep hill.

The squad were then split into three further teams where they had to complete a series of tests on Lake Windermere including inflating giant paddle boards.

That was then followed by an open swimming race before another run back to the base HQ.

Alongside the playing squad, boss Jon Whitney as well as coaches Neil Cutler and Ian Sharps took part in all the challenges.

Previously the camp has been used by Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Preston, Morecambe, Crewe and Carlisle.

It also been used by individual players from Arsenal, Southampton, Bournemouth, Everton and Swansea.

Walsall’s squad will also spend the majority of today in the Lake District before heading back in the evening ahead of their first open pre-season friendly of the summer against Solihull Moors on Saturday.