Sam Byram has claimed he worked hard on his fitness throughout the summer to prepare himself for the ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ of returning to Leeds United.
Byram was speaking on the latest episode of the Official Leeds United Podcast, where he was asked about what he did during the off-season as a free agent.
The 30-year-old was released from Norwich City at the end of the 2022/23 campaign after a four-year spell at Carrow Road that was plagued by injuries.
Having made just 54 appearances during his time at the Canaries, Byram was in a position where he was without a club and therefore had no certainty around his future.
As a result of that, Byram felt as though he had to use the summer to get himself into tip-top shape, hiring both a physio and fitness coach in order to do.
Byram on how he prepared for Leeds trial
Initially Byram had been invited back to Leeds to train and take part in pre-season to build his fitness to provide him with the platform to find a club.
However, Byram impressed so much in training, and the friendlies, that Leeds decided to offer him a one-year deal, which he believes is done to the work he did before pre-season.
He said: “There was no insurance in place. I obviously had that thought in my head because of my previous injuries but I was so confident and positive from the work I had done in the summer. I had worked with a real top physio and fitness coach together, they highlighted where I could improve on certain things and coming here I felt in a really good position fitness wise.
“For me it was like a once in a lifetime opportunity, you’re training at Leeds under a manager you know, with a really good squad for this league and you’ve got a chance to sign a contract, for me it was what have you got to lose? Looking back if I had have got injured it’s a completely different story as I might not be sat here now. I am glad I went with it and trusted it to go well.”
Byram has been brilliant
Byram has been one of the bargains of the summer so far with his impressive performances having helped him nail down the left-back spot as his own.
After going through so many injury problems, it is good to see Byram back at full fitness and he will no doubt continue to play a huge part over the course of the season.
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