Kwadwo Baah said he is slowly building back up to full fitness following the hamstring injury which ruled him out of the final weeks of last season.
The forward was among those to return to training early last week before pre-season officially began on Monday.
Expectations have been set and the players are working to reach the levels required by the coaching team.
Individual flourishes will then be added to training plans, depending on factors such as body type and roles in the team.
For Baah, the first week has been a little gentler than most as the medical staff ease him back in.
“It’s good to be back,” Baah said to watfordfc.com.
“I haven’t really started pre-season as I’ve been doing rehab work, but I should be back next week.
“It’s just being cautious from the injury and slowly building me up to 100 per cent.”
Although Baah hasn’t hit full stride yet, he explained that pre-season work isn’t generally his favourite part of the campaign.
The focus is reaching the standards required for the new Sky Bet Championship season, starting with the trip to Charlton Athletic on August 9 (12.30pm KO).
“I wouldn’t say I enjoy it,” he said. “But you have to get through it because you’re building fitness.
“It’s the hardest point of the season in terms of training.
“I feel like if you can get though pre-season, and enjoy it in some way, you can push through.”
New Head Coach Paulo Pezzolano and his staff have been introducing their working philosophy and principles to the players.
“He [Pezzolano] wants us to be hard-working in his style of play,” Baah said.
“Their ambition is to get us promoted, which is what we want, too.
“The staff and the Head Coach seem really down to earth.”
