GRETAR Steinsson has high hopes for the new campaign - despite the lack of new faces on show at pre-season training.

The Icelandic defender jets out to Austria on Saturday along with a slim first team squad which has so far only been bolstered this summer by the arrival of Sean Davis.

Gary Megson has been frustrated in his efforts to bring in more new blood, but Steinsson claims there is still a genuine sense of optimism around the Wanderers camp in spite of the lack of transfer activity.

“It’s good to be back to see all the lads because we have more or less got the same squad as last season apart from the few players who were on loan who have gone back to their clubs,” he said. “Sean has joined us too, which is fantastic. We have got a young team with experienced players and everyone is looking forward to the future. It takes time to build a new team and there are high hopes for this season.”

The full-back enjoyed an eventful summer, renewing his wedding vows in Iceland with his wife Manuela, and captaining his country for the first time in a World Cup qualifier against Macedonia.

He also worked with his football school, based in his home town of Siglufjörður, which is run in conjunction with the club and caters for 130 Icelandic children.

Steinsson took a short break in Barcelona, but reckons he is now ready to get back to work.

“I found time to take it is easy, but I did some activities to keep myself ticking over,” he said. “I’ve always been a natural athlete so I don’t normally have any problems. It’s also really important to shut off for a couple of weeks so that you are fully motivated for when you come back to work.

“Over the last week though, I was itching to come back. I was reading the newspapers every day to read about all the football gossip.”

Meanwhile, long-time Wanderers target Miguel Veloso has reportedly told Sporting Lisbon that he wants to leave the club this summer.

Interest in the 23-year-old playmaker had cooled in recent weeks, as the midfielder looked set to start next season in Portugal.

But reports from the country yesterday claimed he had told his agent, Paulo Barbosa, to find him a club abroad.

Wanderers had a bid rejected in January but are not thought to have made another official offer in this transfer window. Aston Villa are also said to be monitoring Veloso’s progress.