Gary Dicker has told seagulls.co.uk that he is glad to be back in training after the summer break.
The Albion first-team squad returned to Falmer this week ahead of a busy pre-season schedule, with the Irish midfielder already focused on the forthcoming campaign.
"It's always good to be back," he said. "The weeks go quite fast when you're at home but you miss it as well.
"You begin to get bored, so it's nice to be back among the lads and to meet some new faces as well.
"I had a good summer; I went away with a few of the lads, then also with my girlfriend as well. I try to get all my holidays in May so that I have time to focus and get myself ready in good time for the new season."
Long gone are the days when the summer break meant eating and drinking to excess, and to ensure the Albion players kept their base level of fitness, they were each given a programme to adhere to throughout May and June.
"The whole point of the off-season is to rest and the point of pre-season is to get fit, but you want to help yourself out so we all had a programme to do," Dicker adds. "You're conscious of keeping yourself in shape for when you return and I think you'll see from the results of the running this week that all the lads have done quite well.
"I don't think anyone enjoys pre season but it's part of the game and we're all used to it now. You moan but you feel really good after you've done it. Still, I'm sure you'll see a few grumpy heads around the training ground and I'll be one of them!"
Looking ahead, Dicker is aware that a good start to the new season is imperative after a poor run of results left the side battling at the wrong end of the table last time out.
"Same as always, a good start is so important in this league," he points out. "We saw last season that the top teams had a good start, even Leeds who almost blew it. If they didn't have their good start they would have really struggled.
"The first 10-15 games are massive if we are to have any chance of pushing for promotion. If we do well early on, with a tough start against Swindon, it will be a good benchmark to see how far we have come. They could be a bit rusty in that first game, so hopefully we can catch them out."
While Dicker has enjoyed being back among the dressing room banter, there is one notable absentee in midfield partner Andrew Crofts, who has departed to Championship side Norwich City.
"It was sad to see Crofty go because he had a great season and he's a top lad. I got to know him really well playing in the middle of the park with him but you can't blame the lad for making a move like that.
"I'm not too sure which way the gaffer wants to play this year; last year he played with three in the middle, but I'm sure he will have his own ideas in pre-season and try different formations and tactics to see which suits the team best. Last season we found a balance which suited a lot of the players in the team, so I'm sure he will sort it out again."
