The Trotters flew to the Austrian town of Bad Aussee last week to prepare for the new season's kick-off on August 16 and Gary Megson has been putting his men through double sessions in an effort to make his side one of the fittest in the top flight.

O'Brien, who retired from international football with the Republic of Ireland last season, hopes the effort they are putting in now will help Bolton begin the new season in the same manner they ended the last campaign, when they won three and drew two of their last five games to secure Premier League survival.

The 29-year-old told the club's official website: "If we can start the season the way we finished the last one then we'll certainly be a lot better than last year. We didn't get off to a good start last season and we were chasing our tails for the rest of the season.

"It's a case of coming out here to work and get fit for the pre-season games. The proof will be in the results because that's what the players, management and staff gets judged on."