13/05/2008 - Notts: We need summer to let us recharge
Mike Edwards believes the summer will give the Magpies a crucial chance to recharge not only physically - but also mentally - after a gruelling relegation battle.
Notts County secured their Football League status with one game of the season to spare.
And the 28-year-old defender believes the white-hot pressure of the club's plight in League Two has taken a heavy toll on the players at Meadow Lane.
Leading scorer Richard Butcher started every one of the Magpies' 46 league games, and Adam Tann made 40 starts.
Edwards only played the second half of the campaign, after suffering a bad injury in pre-season that kept him out until the end of January.
"You do need a mental break and the physical break because it has been a long, hard season," he said.
"I missed half the season but I am due a rest.
"My aim was to play as many games as I could when I got back from injury and I managed every one, bar one game (Shrewsbury), so it's been a bit hectic."
Edwards dislocated his right ankle, fractured both bones in his lower leg and suffered ligament damage in a friendly at St Blazey last July.
He had a metal plate inserted to help heal his fractured fibula. He is set to have that removed now the season is over, which will take a few weeks to heal. After that, he is preparing to work hard to make sure he is ready for pre-season training in July.
"Getting injured last pre-season was a bit of a nightmare and I have probably only been about 80% fit because of that," he added. "I am going to have my operation and then a little bit of a rest.
"But I have got a fair bit of work to do in the summer and in pre-season to get my fitness back up to how I know I can be for next season."