Sheffield Wednesday’s Darren Moore talks about Portsmouth, Portugal and the treble sessions UK News

The Owls face Pompey on July 30 at home in their first game of the 2022/23 campaign, but before that they will spend a week on the continent in a warm weather camp as part of their preparations.

Wednesday enjoyed a big win over Danny Cowley’s side on the final day of last season, but they will be a different beast this time around with a lot more at stake for the visitors on opening day.

“It’s been a really exciting start to the season with a home game against Portsmouth,” Moore told the club’s website. “We’re at Hillsborough for the first time in a few years on day one so it’s great for our supporters. It’s a great game for clubs and the division.

“It’s a really exciting prospect for both clubs, the start of the season with two big clubs playing each other on day one. Portsmouth are a well supported club, they will bring a lot of fans here, we will have new players ahead a big crowd in a great atmosphere. But first and foremost, and for now, it’s about pre-season and getting all the right preparations in place.

Meanwhile, he also said the trip to Europe next month will give him the opportunity to participate in three sessions a day with his players as he prepares them for the season.

He explained: “Last year we went to Wales quite early, but this year we can do it differently and we have decided to spend a few weeks here at our training ground before heading to Portugal to warm weather training. New players will be able to get a feel for the place first while gaining that basic level of fitness.

“Then we go to Portugal and a training camp where you are effectively locked up internally and you can put in a really good job. There are usually double sessions in pre-season at home, but in Portugal you can organize three sessions, you have more time to implement things in a different environment.