Exeter City's Jack Fitzwater hoping injuries are behind him

Exeter City defender Jack Fitzwater is hoping a positive pre-season will see him make his mark at St James Park. The 26-year-old joined the Grecians in September, but only made seven appearances in his first season in Devon.

Having broken into the team shortly after his arrival, a foot injury sustained during the Carabao Cup exit to Middlesbrough in October ruled him out for several months. Fitness concerns, as well as the form of others, meant his only action of 2024 was 45 minutes against Northampton Town in the penultimate game of the League One season.

But now injury-free, Fitzwater is hopeful that his second season with Gary Caldwell’s men is much more productive. Back in training as pre-season has gotten under way, the defender is aiming to show why he was brought to the club and force his way into the starting line-up.

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“As I had such a stop-start year, I stayed down here during the week and got some work done Tuesday-Friday,” he said, of what he had been up to since the end of the campaign.

“I feel in a good place physically, and so I can’t wait for the season to start. I am prepared now, I want to have a full season, express myself on the pitch, and cannot wait for it to start.

“I got the balance right between coming here and using the facilities and having time off and spending it with friends and family, so I have really enjoyed it.

“It is always nice to be back and see the faces again, have a laugh and a joke and get around the lads again. Day one was tough, we did a bit of bike work, but as everyone knows on day one of pre-season there are a few butterflies, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, though me, Will and Sweens were definitely stitched up with a dodgy bike by the other boys and we had to get in the ice bath!

“It was nice today, it's 25 degrees, so set us up for the day, but I'm not looking forward to it in December, January, February, when it will be horrible!”