This week the Crystal Palace first team returned to training in the midst of a heatwave that has gripped the entire country, with the top temperature at the Beckenham training ground reaching into the early thirties.

And with little or no cover at all, Neil Warnock welcomed his players back with a rigourous training regime designed to make them sweat even more in the mid-morning heat.

Alongside him though was the noticeable presence of the physios who were there to monitor the players' condition and minimise any possible risk of training in such intense heat.

We spoke to Assistant Physio Sangi Patel to ask what sort of precautions they are taking to ensure the players safety:

"Well first of all we are starting an hour earlier so that they finish before peak heat and they are all given sun screen ahead of the session.

"They have also got a constant supply of their own fluid that is constantly kept in ice. When they finish they do their cool down in the shade, but in truth they spend as much time as they can in the shade and getting fluids on board.

"Then when they get back into the dressing room they all have ice baths to cool them down even further."

So are there any specially designed methods to minimise any risk or is it just common sense?

"There are no magical answers to what we are doing. It is all basic common sense. We keep them out of the sun as much as possible and make sure they take on plenty of water."

What are the main dangers of training in the sun?

"The main one is heat stroke, which can make you feel really sick, tired and fatigued. It is something that some players are more prone to than the others but by following the measures we have in place we can make sure that they are all protected."

Has Neil changed his training schedule to compensate for the high temperatures?

"No, they haven't changed it. He is, however, a lot more aware of the heat and is constantly gauging how much to do and when"

And finally can you give us an update on the players in the physio room right now

"Calvin will be walking without crutches and a brace on Monday, which is an encouraging development.

"Shaun Derry has been in full training this week and has come through without any problems, and Rhoys Wiggins is in his rehab stage but doing really well."