Reading manager José Gomes says the Royals are in for two busy weeks of pre-season training, after taking the first session in their training camp in Estepona on Monday morning.

The Royals will be playing six different friendlies over the course of the next fortnight, as they build up their match fitness and prepare for a gruelling Sky Bet Championship campaign, which begins on August 3.

On the first session in Spain, Gomes said: "We had good conditions, a good pitch, good energy from the lads - we're in our track. Tough preparations for the matches that we have, so it's training for two to three days, then we have games.

"In the first few games, we will split the time with them. Then next week, they will play 90 minutes in games against strong teams.

"It will be a tough two weeks for them, but it's normal in this part of the season.

"The young players are enjoying it a lot, they are trying to show what they can do. Even if they return to the Under-23s team again, it was a very important moment for them because I already know them and, in the future, you never know what can happen."

With six matches to play, there is ample opportunity for the squad to hone their skills and get used to playing together for the season ahead, as well as take the manager's ideas on board.

Gomes outlined what he hopes to achieve from the tour. He added: "The way that my players understand the game, understanding the ideas behind the game and the philosophy because all of them must have the technical skills.

"The most important thing is the way we understand and read the game, and the decisions we are taking.

"We are in good shape when all of the players have a problem on the pitch, and they think of the same solution. That is understanding the game and that is why we are here.

"This is the first stone when you are building, we share everything that we want. We started today by watching pictures from the previous game - what we like, what we must do better, what kind of changes they must show in the next game.

"Step by step, after all the games we've planned for the pre-season, they will be there."