THE World Cup may be only four days away but at Gawthorpe today the focus has been on next season's first division campaign.

Several of Stan Ternent's first team squad were being put through their paces as the preparations for the big kick off on August 10 continue.

Club physio Ian Liversedge has been taking particular interest in the well-being of three of the club's players who have all had operations in the last few weeks.

"Robbie Blake is doing okay after his hernia operation," he said.

"Three weeks on from that he is coming along nicely and he will start running next month.

"But the good news is that he is going to be right for the start of pre-season training."

The other players to have had surgery following the end of the season are Paul Weller and Ian Moore.

"Paul has had a wash-out of his knee as he had played the last couple of months while not being 100 per cent," said Liversedge. "He will also be okay for the start of the season.

"Ian Moore did have his hernia operation last week and he has been resting up and will take it easy for the first couple of weeks. Then he will start walking as we gradually build him up."

The fourth Claret to have surgery this month is youngster Rhys Carpenter. The Wales schoolboy international has been plagued by both injury and illness since he came to the club and he needed to have his back treated.

"He will take a bit longer to be back in action as he needs to take things easy for the next six weeks," explained the physio. "But we are still hoping that he will be ready to play sometime in either August or September.

"I will be seeing all the players who have had treatment on a regular basis to do rehab work but we are also looking after the other players.

"Everything is aimed at building them up and getting everything ready for the return to full training.

"This time of year is very important as it is my job to get everyone fit for pre-season. All the lads will be doing some training through the summer."

Among the players being put through their paces by assistant manager Sam Ellis and Liversedge today was the versatile Graham Branch, a player who suffered a series of nightmare injuries last season.

But Liversedge explained: "He is doing okay now and he will be coming in throughout the summer."