THERE was a distinctly odd look about the squad as they went through their stretches in the east Scotland sun yesterday.

Then I realised that it was Dundee United, and not City, who were warming up on the first training pitch at St Andrews University.

The Arabs rent it as their base all year round, meanwhile Stuart McCall’s Bantams are working on the adjoining area for the week.

City and McCall have been here before in 2008, although then the neighbours were Barcelona over for a glamour friendly with Celtic.

Times change. But then again, the squad eight years ago stayed in the student flats that become holiday lets over the summer.

Now they are luxuriating in the prestige surrounds of the Old Course Hotel at the very home of golf.

There was nothing under-par about yesterday’s double session. A morning of fitness drills and light ball work was followed later in the day by an exercise in crossing and shooting.

The players had enjoyed a free Sunday – Nathan Clarke pipping James Hanson to win a seven-man golf tournament – but were being put through it in readiness for tonight’s friendly at St Johnstone.

McCall said: “We probably wouldn’t do a double session before a game but it’s pre-season.

“The longer we’re spending each day on the training ground the better it is because we’re getting our message across to the players.

“I’ve been really pleased with what I’ve seen. They are taking it on board and I know there are some good players here.

“The boys are settling in and we’ve got a few things planned for tomorrow for a bit of team bonding.

“They are working and learning all the time and we’re getting to know them. The facilities are really good and it’s perfect.”

James Meredith joined in with the morning drills and should feature at McDiarmid Park after sitting out the Gateshead game. Filipe Morais is also lined up to start.

German goalkeeper Rouven Sattelmaier is also back after flying in last night as McCall gives him an extended trial. He played the full game at Guiseley ten days ago.

St Johnstone began their competitive campaign on Saturday with a 3-1 win at Second Division Elgin City in the League Cup.

“Fitness-wise it will be tough because they will have been back for pre-season before us,” added McCall. “It will be a good test again.

“Tommy (Wright) does a really good job there. They are always in the top six year in, year out.

“There is a lot of experience in their side so this will be another step-up for us. Mezza should be okay to play.

“He had a little niggle in his calf and if we’d played him Saturday he could have ended up being out for three or four weeks.

“It seems to have settled down. He did all the strength testing and a bit of running on Sunday and he should be fine.

“Fil will probably get a start and maybe play 45 minutes this time.

“We need everyone to get a bit of football, so there will be a few who get nearer 90 minutes as a progression. But it will be a different starting line-up.”

McCall rejected a rumour linking City with Arminia Bielefeld striker Fabien Klos and repeated that there were no signings on the immediate horizon.

He said: “We’ve brought in four permanent and Jordy (Hiwula) on loan. So maybe we need another three or four but it depends who comes up.

“There have been a couple of low bids in to test the water but I don’t see anything happening while we’re up in Scotland.

“Then when I get back, it gives me a chance to go out and see some under-21 games and look out for loans.

“It’s difficult to say how many will be our players or loans at this stage because it depends which ones come up.

“I could do with getting another in up top who is ours.

“Because if you get another loan in, you’re sometimes under pressure to play them.

“Names keep coming up each day so it’s ongoing process.

“But there is nothing in the pipeline right now.”

But if the Bantams boss needed any added incentive as the new season draws nearer, the revelation that season-ticket sales had broken the 17,000 mark by the weekend’s £149 deadline provided it.

“It’s a great effort again by the fans. Obviously there has been a little bit of uncertainty over the summer so that’s a nice bit of positive news.

“But now there’s going to be that many there we need to entertain them and get them off their seats, hopefully enjoying what they see.”