Athletic midfielder Alex MacDonald feels as ‘fit and sharp’ as ever after losing a stone in weight since the end of last season.
Last summer, the in-form fans’ favourite made it his mission to return to the Stags’ camp in peak condition.
And he is now reaping the rewards for tireless work off-the-pitch, becoming a key player in a side which are unbeaten in their last seven league matches.
“I feel fit. I feel good,” said the 27-year-old, speaking to the local media this morning at One Call Stadium.
“I’m in a new role in the team as well [playing in behind the striker] which I’m really enjoying. Long may the form continue. I’m feeling so good on the pitch."
Impressively, the ex-Oxford man has decreased his body fat from 16.5% to 9% in the past ten months.
“Body fats are really important in the modern-day game. I’ve worked with Lee Taylor [fitness and rehabilitation coach] in getting that [body fats] down for quite some time. My performances are starting to show [that it has come down].
"It’s not like I was eating kebabs every night [previously]. I tweaked little things. It was something I needed to concentrate on in the summer months."
“I bought a bike for home. Lee Taylor said I needed to do it twice a day for a long period of time. The diet part of things is also a real big thing in the modern day game.
“It’s not like I was eating kebabs every night [previously]. I tweaked little things. It was something I needed to concentrate on in the summer months. Instead of being in Marbella for two weeks eating and drinking I was on the bike most days and looking after myself as well as enjoying a family holiday.
“When you’re not looking after yourself, as I am now, and have been for the past eight to ten months, you get to 60,70, 80 minute mark in games and can’t fully make that burst forward or are tired on the ball and things like that.
“Compared to what I was [like] eight to ten months ago, it’s in the latter stages [of a game][ where I’m really feeling my strongest.”
Speaking about the spirit in the camp ahead of Saturday's trip to Morecambe, MacDonald added: “It’s brilliant. The results are showing that. It’s a joy to come to work every day.”
View Alex MacDonald's news conference in full later today on iFollow Stags.
