Pools head off to a Scottish Training Camp next week as the players continue to step up their pre season training.

And while the majority of the squad will be making their first trip to the Camp, Jamie McCunnie knows exactly what to expect,

"It's the Training Centre where you go with the Scottish National teams from under 13 - 18 so I spent a fair few weeks up there over the years.

"You go there for trials and once selected, you go for training breaks with the boys.

"It is different in every training centre - it is similar to Holland as it is in the middle of nowhere, it is not close to any city centre so there'll be no distractions and that is what you need at this time of year.

"The pitches there will be in good condition I would imagine and they'll have everything you need to set up for the start of the season."

Looking ahead to the games up in Scotland and McCunnie can offer his teammates an insight as to what they can expect from both opposition,

"Morton are a team who have just come from part-time football but they have invested a bit of money and made the step up to full-time last year.

"It was their first year in the First Division and they managed to keep their place in the league. It should be a good game considering it's our first one.

"Falkirk are a really good footballing team, the Manager John Hughes is really good and his Player/Coach Russell Latapy is a lovely guy.

"The two of them have got Falkirk playing really well, they are one of those teams who like to get it down and pass it around, similar to how we like to play. I know a few of the Falkirk players and it'll be just the kind of game we need."

With most players looking forward to a change in training venue this year, McCunnie reveals he was hoping for another trip to Holland,

"I get up to Scotland all the time so I want away from the place!!" he joked.

"Seriously though, it's a totally different area from where my family live so it'll be good to get up there.

"I don't think we'll be seeing the bright lights though - it'll be more like early nights for us, there's a little village near to where we're going but that's it.

"If the fans have a free day between games, they should head to Glasgow for the day - it's only around an hour's journey on the train."

Pre season training is not always a popular time of year with the players but McCunnie takes a philosophical approach,

"Pre season is pre season - it's not nice but we all have to do it.

"It gets to the stage where you get bored being on holiday when you've done everything you wanted to and you want to get back into training. But as soon as you're back, you want to be on holiday again because the hard work begins."

And, when the Scot turned up for pre season training he was sporting a new look - bright blonde hair,

"I did it before I went on holiday with the boys but I'll get it all washed out before the first game of the season," he told hartlepoolunited.co.uk.