With the odd exception, pre-season training is no longer the boot camp of running, running and running some more from years gone by.

The advent of sports science and better fitness attitudes during the summer break reduce the need to “beast” the players during their first week back.

But to call the early preparation programme enjoyable for the squad might be stretching the point. It is still hard, strenuous work – especially in the current heatwave.

Among all the sweat and toil there will inevitably be murmurs and grumbles in the bunch. But don’t expect to hear any from the lips of Luke Oliver.

For the biggest presence on the training pitch, just being out there with the rest represents a major step forward. It is what he has been patiently working towards since snapping an Achilles tendon at Burton in October.

The giant centre half is not 100 per cent yet. While joining the rest for a few basic routines, he spent the bulk of the first week in separate strengthening sessions with physio Matt Barrass.

But the fact that he is back in the fold at all is a major hurdle cleared for one of the most popular members of the dressing room.

Oliver said: “Just doing the little warm-ups and ball skills again is nice. You miss having that banter with the boys. I still felt involved last season but it was more a case of being on the outside looking in. It obviously wasn’t the same.

“The physio team have been tremendous with me and helped out so much. A lot of the time I’ve been injured on my own, which is difficult, but they’ve kept it interesting and made things easier.

“You have a laugh in your own group. It’s like you set up your own little club trying to get back into the big club!

“They’ve been top class and I can’t thank them enough. But it’s great to be back out there.”

Spending so long out of action – and missing so much history in the making – has given Oliver plenty of opportunity to appreciate the job. He would never take playing football for granted.

“It’s been very frustrating,” he admitted. “But it’s part and parcel of football.

“You feel you’re playing well and then suddenly something like that just happens. But it can’t be helped and you just have to get on with it.

“Somebody said to me once to play every game like it’s your last because one day it will be. Make the most of your opportunities.

“If you can play like that and have that sort of mentality, you can’t go far wrong and that’s what I try to do.

“I’m not quite there yet but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s just trying to get through that last little bit now.”

Phil Parkinson is chuffed to see such a “good character” around the place again. While Oliver will not be ready for Saturday’s opening friendly at Guiseley, he might travel with the squad to Ireland to continue his rehab during the week-long training camp.

Should Oliver need any more incentive to get back playing, a quick glance at the League One fixture list provides it. And he shares the common belief that City are well capable of making their mark at the next level.

He added: “It’s brilliant to be competing with these top boys. Ask any footballer, you want to be pushing yourself and playing higher up.

“Last season everyone kept saying we made history. It was something special.

“It was funny, I was watching Premier League years on Sky the other day from 1993. It got me thinking that in ten years’ time there will be Bradford popping up on there going to the cup final at Wembley!

“It’s nice to put the club back on the map after so long and we can’t wait to get going again. We’ve definitely got the potential here.

“People are keeping an eye out for us now. After beating all those big teams, they want to see what Bradford are doing these days and that can only be a positive.”