Michael Barlow says he’s fully recovered from the foot injury that kept him in the rehabilitation group after the 2014 season.

The prolific midfielder was held out of training with the main group when the pre-season began back in late November.

But Barlow rejoined his teammates on the track just after Christmas and said he was training strongly.

“I’m cherry ripe now and moving forward,” he said.

“I’m doing as much as anyone else and am not being held back at all. No issues from here on in.”

The club has begun the New Year by ramping up its preparations for the 2015 season.

Barlow said all was going according to plan.

“We haven’t missed a beat after Christmas,” he said.

“We’re in a high–end training block at the moment and the team is really embracing that and taking it all on board and looking to improve every session.”

Also pleasing for Barlow and Freo was the small size of the club’s rehab group, which includes star defender Michael Johnson.

Johnson missed the end of the 2014 season with a back injury that subsequently required surgery in the off-season.

“He was the most significant off-season rehab program,” Barlow said.

“Michael hasn’t had any setbacks. He’s tracking at a nice steady pace back into the main group and he shouldn’t be too far away now.

“I know he’s doing some solid conditioning work on his legs now.

“Our rehab group at the moment is really, really small, I think there’s only four or five guys in there with a few looking to get back over the next fortnight.”

Among the other pre-season highlights for Barlow around club headquarters was the continued evolution of superstar midfielder Nat Fyfe.

Barlow said the reigning back-to-back club champion was already a leader on the playing field, but he added Fyfe’s off-field qualities have been emerging.

“He’s been a massive team driver for us, but his growth and his acknowledgement of his leadership around the younger players is really noticeable,” Barlow said.

“It’s good to see him going really well.”