After a three-week break, Viktoria Plzeň has kicked off its summer training for the new season. The first phase will take place at home, and in early July, the team will head to a training camp in Westendorf, Austria.

On the first day of summer training, the team gathered on the field for their first joint practice. Fitness tests will be conducted in the coming days.

Naturally, the national team players are currently absent, as they are representing their countries at the World Cup. Specifically, these include Lukáš Červ, Denis Višinský, and Alexander Sojka (Czech Republic), Amara Memić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Florian Wiegele (Austria), Merchas Doski (Iraq), and Prince Adua (Ghana).

“We are in regular contact with all the players and, of course, we are monitoring how their teams are doing. Based on that, we will then individually address their returns from overseas and their subsequent involvement in training during the camp in Austria,” said the club’s sporting director, Martin Vozábal.

The latest addition, Serbian midfielder Stefan Pirgić, was also present at the first training session.

Forward Baboucar Faal will join in the coming days, as will Dávid Krčík, Sampson Dweh, Tomáš Ladra, Mohammed Toure, Adrian Zeljković, whose loan at MTK Budapest has ended, and Christophe Kabongo, who is returning from Mladá Boleslav. James Bello has also returned to training from his loan at second-division Táborsko.

Jan Paluska, Václav Jemelka, and Viktor Baier are recovering from injuries and training individually under the supervision of fitness coaches and physical therapists.

Two talented foreign players are also on trial at the club: Senegalese center back Paul Nghabo (Příbram) and Hungarian midfielder Atila Krán (Haladás).

As previously announced, talented young players from the academy are also getting a chance in preseason training—Petr Kubín, Radek Büchner, Jakub Chalupa, Adam Novák, Filip Růžička, and Matěj Hacaperka.

Conversely, forward Ricardinho has not joined Viktoria’s preseason training, as his contract was terminated by mutual agreement. The future and next moves are currently being discussed for Idjetsi Metsok, defender Václav Míka, and forward Daniel Suchý.

Midfielder Tom Slončík is also in talks regarding a new contract.

Viktoria will play their first preseason match on Saturday, June 27, at Doubravka against Artis Brno (10:30).

SQUAD AT THE START OF SUMMER TRAINING

GOALKEEPERS: Dominik Ťapaj, Marián Tvrdoň, Matyáš Šilhavý, Matěj Hacaperka

DEFENDERS: Sampson Dweh, Dávid Krčík, Karel Spáčil, Adam Kadlec, Paul Nghabo, Petr Kubín, Radek Büchner

MIDFIELDERS: Patrik Hrošovský, Cheick Souaré, Stefan Pirgić, Matěj Valenta, Jakub Chalupa, Atila Krán, Filip Růžička, James Bello, Jiří Maxim Panoš, Tomáš Ladra, Adrian Zeljković

FORWARDS: Salim Lawal, Matěj Vydra, Mohamed Touré, Baboucar Faal, Christophe Kabongo, Adam Novák

Recovering from injury: Viktor Baier, Jan Paluska, Václav Jemelka

National team players: Lukáš Červ, Alexandr Sojka, Denis Višinský, Merchas Doski, Amar Memić, Prince Adu, Florian Wiegele