For Scott Fraser, Wednesday has always been a day off, a time when he could chill out, relax and escape for 24 hours from the rigours of being a professional footballer.
Under Csaba Laszlo at Dundee United, though, that’s all gone now and the past few weeks have seen the 22-year-old adjusting to a seven-day working week.
The good news for Arabs is, rather than grumble about this extra workload, the attacking midfielder is loving it and believes it can be a major part in getting the Tangerines back up to the Premiership.
As gaffer Laszlo revealed to the Tele within days of taking over at Tannadice, for him days off come in the summer once the targets for a season have been met.
During the campaign he sees only benefit in having his players in doing some work most days.
For Fraser that’s been a culture shock but he insists the surprise has been a pleasant one.
“The boys are in training every single day. We were in on Sunday afternoon for a cool down and to speak about the game at Brechin on Saturday,” he said.
“So it’s seven-day working and it’s a new experience for me. In my career so far I’ve been used to usually having a Wednesday off.
“Changing takes a bit of getting used to but the boys are all enjoying it. There’s a feel-good atmosphere and the gaffer has good banter in it. Every session is also intense and he really gets across what he wants from you.
“I’m enjoying it because I feel I’m taking a lot from it and learning things every day that are making me a better player and helping the team.
“We are really buying into what the boss wants because we can see where it can take us.”
At the weekend, that should have been to another three points, a fourth win in a row in the Championship.
After a totally-dominant first half at Brechin it looked set to be just that but the loss of a bad goal in the second period saw United having to settle for a point.
Disappointing as that was, Fraser remains convinced United under Laszlo are heading in the right direction.
“You saw in the first half how good we can be. The passing was great despite the grass not being that good and we should have been out of sight by the break.
“Then we lose a terrible, horrible, sloppy goal right at the start of the second half. That gave Brechin something to hang on to and, in the end, it cost us two points in a game we should have won.
“We still had chances to win it but we didn’t take them. It was very frustrating but no one is down because we believe we are making progress.”
One of the things the manager has already done is to confirm to Fraser he sees him playing centrally, just behind the main striker. He admits that’s music to his ears.
“He spoke to me in his first few days and told me I was going to play in ‘the hole’. He thinks I’m creative and he said I can go where I want and get on the ball.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do and I think I’ve created a few chances in the last couple of games.
“I’m also working on trying to add a few goals because I do think I can get more.
“The past two games I think I’ve done OK but I am frustrated I’ve not got a goal. I feel I’ve had chances and done everything bar score.
“I understand when we don’t have the ball I need to work for the team to help get it back quickly, and the gaffer has stressed that as well.”
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