Adams, appointed as full-time manager at Carrow Road in May after a brief spell as caretaker boss at the end of last season, spoke of the “bitter disappointment” of relegation but is enthused by the work his squad have undertaken at their intensive training camp at The FA’s national football centre last week.
Adams’s squad, which includes England U19 pair Josh and Jacob Murphy as well as Under-21s attacker Nathan Redmond, have been undergoing daily triple training sessions utilising the £105m centre’s array of facilities.
Norwich City in training at St. George's Park
For the 48 year-old, the time together is crucial for both physical preparation as well as forging social relationships.
Adams said: "It’s 24/7 here, it’s a big thing for team bonding as the players get to know each other and for the new signings get to know their team-mates. It also gives you something a bit different in fresh surroundings.
"On day one I said the very minimum I expect is high-intensity. That has to be a given in the modern game, the players have to be at it and then you can take mistakes and tolerate mistakes and you can work on it. But what you can’t tolerate is 80 per cent work.
"We’re doing triple sessions here and the players have been fantastic. On a training camp like this, where you’re away from what you’re used to, you get to know the players' strengths and weaknesses and you get to know their character.
"In the hard sessions you’ve seen here, pleasingly you’ve seen every one of them gritting their teeth, getting on with it and getting it done."
The national football centre isn’t a completely new experience for Adams who has visited the Burton site for numerous coaching courses and conferences.
Nathan Redmond in training at St. George's Park
And the former Norwich U18s coach believes it is crucial that coaching is at the top of agenda for the future development of English football.
"If we’re going to be at the top and competing with the world’s elite at any level and especially at senior level, then coaching is paramount," he explained.
"When you’ve got a facility like this, and the courses The FA put on, then it’s invaluable and can only help all of us. They’re first class facilities and we really enjoy it here and you can’t fail to be impressed by the standards that are set here."
Alongside the Championship side, St George’s Park has hosted Romanian Champions Steaua Bucharest this week and also announced that Spanish giants FC Barcelona will hold their pre-season training camp at the site at the end of July.
Watch out for our pre-season training feature with Norwich’s Head of Sports Science Nick Davies next week on TheFA.com/SGP
