Cameron Burgess | The dress rehearsals are over, it's the real thing now
Cameron Burgess is glad the dress rehearsals are over and the serious business of a new Championship season is just around the corner as Swansea City prepare to face Middlesbrough in their opener.
The Swans head to Teesside with Burgess in line to make his debut for his new club, having joined over the summer after a successful spell with Ipswich Town, which included back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
The Australia international says he has been able to feel the sense of positivity and excitement around the club following a strong end to last season, and a headline-grabbing few months off the field.
Now, he is keen to carry that feeling into the starting of a gruelling 46-game campaign.
“I think everything over the last sort of six months or so, and even beyond that, has all been good progress and I think everyone can see that,” he said.
“The club is definitely going in the right direction and there is definitely a lot of excitement about the place.
“Now it’s down to us players to sort of replicate that, the dress rehearsals are over and it’s time to get going.
“We want to make progress from last season. We can see the steps the club has made and if we can continue that then hopefully we can end up having a successful season.
“From my time here, from the start of pre-season to where we are now, we are definitely making that progress and we are looking forward to getting the season started.
“We are excited to get going.”
Burgess knows better than most what it takes to be successful in the EFL following his time at Ipswich Town, and he believes there are strong foundations in place on and off the field in Swansea as the club looks to build and improve.
“We have, in this squad right now, the fundamentals of the things that are really hard to get right in a football team,” he added.
“Those are the spirit, the culture, the identity and how hard everyone works. It’s clearly been here before I arrived and is doubled down by the manager and the staff.
“They are fundamentals I believe carried us a long way at Ipswich, and that’s now for us to put into practice.
“It’s up to us to do the business. The gaffer has jumped straight in following the success he had at the end of last season.
“The enthusiasm, the detail he brings will only help us and the new faces in the building. It’s a long season, but we are making progress and the level of detail we are working to is really good.
“We are confident we have made the right steps in terms of getting ready.”