Tom Huddlestone: 'Fitness vital for Hull City'

Tom Huddlestone has said that Hull City will be working to maintain their fitness levels ahead of pre-season in order to compete in the Europa League.

The Tigers will feature in the European competition after reaching the final of the FA Cup, and will play a qualifier at the end of next month.

The midfielder told the club's website: "Playing those types of games at the end of July is something that most of us won't be used to.

"But nowadays, even during the off-season, we're preparing ourselves fitness-wise in readiness for pre-season.

"A few years ago, it was all about pre-season and using those weeks to get all of your fitness work done. Now we do work during the off-season and have to arrive back on the first day of pre-season relatively fit."

Hull will learn their Europa League opponents when the draw for the third qualifying round takes place on July 18.