Rochdale manager Keith Hill has praised the fitness of his players after they returned to Spotland for the start of pre-season training.

The Lancashire outfit are aiming to win their first promotion since 1969 this coming season after heartbreak in the past two campaigns.

Hill's men lost to Stockport in the 2008 League Two play-off final and were defeated at the play-off semi-final stage against Gillingham last term.

Hill said: "We've taken the body fat percent of the players and they're all absolutely superb.

"I think you've got to be fit for pre-season now. You have to give yourselves an edge individually and collectively.

"We've got a five-week period now before we play our first competitive league game. Everything else before that counts for nothing."