Bradford City's pre-season makes up for last year for East

For one thing, this time 12 months ago he didn’t even have a club – let alone a structured build-up programme.

So, the inconvenience of feeling a bit shattered from all the fitness runs does not scratch the surface for the midfielder.

“It’s been very tough but then last year I only came in the week before the season started,” he said.

“This time I’m blowing every day but I’m also really enjoying it.

“When the season starts, I’ll hopefully feel so much fitter, stronger and ready to attack the league.”

East made 23 appearances in a Swindon side that defied the predictions after being cobbled together so late and went on to reach the play-off semi-finals, going out on penalties to eventual winners Port Vale.

But he is much calmer about the prospect of heading into his first season with City without any last-minute panic.

“It’s the perfect scenario,” added East, whose arrival was confirmed at the end of May. “I could enjoy the summer knowing that you are preparing for something.

“Last year I was doing running by myself and not having a clue where I was going to go.

“This time I knew exactly what I’m doing and exactly what’s expected. It leaves me in a good place.”

Surrey-born East spent 11 years coming through the ranks at Reading prior to his Swindon switch. As an apprentice, he was on boot-cleaning duty the night the Royals broke City’s hearts in the FA Cup quarter-final replay in 2015.

“I think it was one of the best nights I had there, seeing all the guys celebrating afterwards because they’d got to Wembley.”

Expectations for success at his new club are already rocketing before a ball has been kicked. The 2,500 crowd for the first friendly at Bradford (Park Avenue) was a taster of the public’s growing anticipation.

East admitted: “You saw that support for a local game and all the players are buzzing for it. We can’t wait for the season to start, especially as it’s at home.

“An early win is key just to settle everyone down and give yourself something to build on.

“From my experience last year, when opposition come to big stadiums with a lot of fans, they find an extra 10 per cent.

“They know it’s a big one for them so teams come with that extra incentive and work a bit harder, so the game’s going to be a bit tougher than it might be elsewhere.

“We’re going to be facing that all season but there will be no better feeling than if we can get the place rocking.”

East’s experience with Swindon showed just how quickly momentum can build with a strong start.

“I was on the bench for the first game and we had a team with three or four subs. That was it.

“But the squad they managed to put together was very competitive for the league. We had some really good players in there and a lot with a point to prove.

“We set the tone early with a win at Scunthorpe and that put belief in everyone straight away. We were all on the same page from the start.

“When you keep winning, you can feel it in the stadium. There was a stage last season when you just knew we wouldn’t get beaten.

“It’s great when you have that feeling with everyone in the group and in the stands. If you can use that 15,000 crowd we’ll have to your advantage, then you’re flying.”

With so many new faces, this week’s training camp in Murcia is helping to form bonds ahead of the July 30 curtain-raiser against Doncaster. East is particularly keen to get close to Richie Smallwood.

“I saw it on Twitter that he was signing and knew he could really help me.

East will lean on Richie Smallwood's Championship experience this season

“He obviously plays in my position but he’s someone I can learn so much from and he will help develop my game.

“He’s played hundreds of games in the EFL. All you’ve got to do is listen to him, watch him and take bits from his game.

“We’ve got enough fresh legs in the team and the experience matches it. You need that because as a young player you haven’t got the games under your belt.

“You need lads out there who have been there and done it and will go and push you to that next level.

“Pre-season has been proper hard so far and the boys have put in a lot of work.

“But it’s really important to gel and get to know each other a bit more. Going away to Spain together helps with the finer detail and forming those relationships for when the season starts.”