Blades fans on holiday in Malta - or at least the early risers - watched the United squad sweat it out at their training base on Thursday morning.

The squad had trained on Wednesday evening but had little time for relaxation afterwards because they were back on the coach at 7am a few hours later to travel back to the Hibernians' Stadium for a 7.30am start.

A group of supporters watched from the shade of the stand as the players toiled in the heat for ninety minutes, taking regular drinks as the temperature was soon at around 35C.

Before reboarding the bus the players signed autographs and posed for pictures, and Leigh Bromby, veteran of the Blades pre-season trip to China four years ago, compared the two:

"This is certainly very hot, even at this time in the morning, but for me it is more comfortable to work in than it was in China because that was very humid and it took its toll on us.

"In training and in the games you could see that players were getting drained much more quickly than over here."

The sessions have been scheduled for early and late in the day to take account of the conditions, a big change in routine for players used to starting at 10.30am and doing one or two sessions by mid afternoon, but for Bromby, it works:

"Being away in pre-season has its benefits; decent weather is guaranteed, you get time with the lads, and you can totally focus on the work, without distractions.

"If we were at home some of us with families would be aware that we had responsibilities at home to leave or go back to between sessions."