David Wagner is preparing his side for a fast start to the 2016/17 Championship campaign.

The fixture calendar has handed Huddersfield Town one of the trickiest opening runs of any team in the division.

But the manager is happy to be facing the likes of Newcastle United and Leeds early on.

And he is determined his players will be ready for the challenge.

“I like the fixtures! They make the new season feel closer,” said Wagner.

“At the end you always have to accept what you get, but my wish was to get the big names at the beginning of the season. We’ve got that – especially with away games at Newcastle, Aston Villa and then Leeds United – so everything is OK.

“The other things in my head I would prefer are to start off with a home game and to be at home on Boxing Day, so I’m very happy.

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“We know we will have to be there from the very first second, but that is exactly what we are working for – starting this Friday.”

Town report back for pre season training on Friday June 24 ahead of a busy training programme.

And six new faces will be joining the first team squad, with more set to arrive before the transfer window closes.

Added Wagner: “Up until now, we have done a good job.

“Stuart Webber has been working hard the whole time and I’m very happy with the players we have recruited already.

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“I know every manager wants to have his group of players together for the first day of pre-season, but this never happens. Very often – nearly always – you only get your whole team together shortly before the window closes, but I’m very happy with what we have already done.

“We are not finished. We still have some positions open in our squad and that isn’t a problem for me, as the window has a long way to go. Sometimes some interesting players come onto the market towards the end of the window, so I’m totally relaxed.

“We start our pre-season on Friday, but I’m sure we will still bring some more signings to the squad during the window.”