CITY have the chance to get away from it all for the next few days.

But their training camp in Austria is no jolly holiday for the lads.

Weeks like this are about getting everyone together as a group, getting to know each other and being closer for it.

The way they settle in and become familiar as a squad now could have a big part to play over the months to follow when the action begins for real.

You look at City's summer up to now and for me it's been a case of so far, so good.

They have recruited some good signings and are a lot further down the line than before at this stage.

It's different to last year when Stuart was thrown in there.

With all due respect to him, he'd been away for a wee while up in Scotland and he was still recognising the players.

Obviously that's where Greg Abbott came into it to help with that.

But it was a bit of a step into the unknown. Nobody knew how it would go and I think they did remarkably well.

But you'd like to think they will be better prepared this time around.

They have been fortunate in respect of the play-off money going into Stuart's kitty. There's also the cash City got from Huddersfield for Nahki Wells getting promoted and Andre Wisdom as well.

Those deals sorted out by the previous regime are all coming up now.

That's happened at a good time and has given the club the luxury of being able to throw some money at signings.

It's incredible when you think that the last time City were in a position to do that was probably before the Premier League.

It certainly helps when you've got some money to spend but again doesn't guarantee anything.

Who would have said that Blackburn, a team now in the third tier, would go and splash £750,000 on Bradley Dack? It's just mind-boggling.

Wigan have come down with dough as well, so that's what City are up against at this moment in time.

But Stuart will be a lot more comfortable about the situation. Rather than needing another six or seven players at this stage, it's just the odd holes to fill in.

Those can happen as you go along. Romain Vincelot, for example, last season happened late on.

Players might come along who aren't available at this stage and you've got that option. You can also pick up loans nearer the end of the window when clubs have made up their mind.

But looking at the recruitment, City have recognised that they probably didn't have enough pace last year in an attacking sense and have rectified that.

As I've said in this column so many times, there is no such thing as having too many forward players – especially ones who are quick.

I'm sure Stuart has learned that from Neil Warnock, who for me was the master of packing his squad with strikers.

Throw two new ones on for the last 20 minutes when the opposition are tired. There's nothing worse for a centre half or full back than seeing a couple of pairs of fresh legs coming at you lightning quick when you're getting tired.

City have brought in players like that and now it's about settling them into the dressing room.

That's why this week is so important in helping all the new faces bed in.

If you don't go away, you only get to see them down at the training ground for a few hours a day. You don't know what they are like as a person.

But travelling somewhere together means they are 24/7 under the same roof, eating together and spending the spare time as a group, whether it's with the card games or whatever.

The social side is as important as the football. Having fun now helps you gel as a squad because it's such a long season ahead.

That's why so many teams do look to get away for a few days because the only focus for the players during that time will be each other.

There are no outside distractions. Nobody is nipping home or off elsewhere once training has finished.

You're in it together from the moment you get on that plane. As a manager, you'll be confident the squad will be stronger for it by the time they fly home.

l John Hendrie was talking to Simon Parker