Jurgen Strand-Larsen has revealed that returning to Norway to spend time with family and friends has helped him to rebuild his mental state ahead of the new Premier League season. The striker, who scored 14 goals on his English league debut last season, has used the summer months to recover his fitness at home and in Europe, training with former team-mate Francesco Totti.  

During the same trip to Greece, the 25-year-old spent time with new signing Phil Lopez, who previously played for Celta Vigo and whose time away from the game has inspired him to return even more strongly and make a greater impact in front of goal for Wolves in the new season.  

Regarding the reset during the offseason, Jurgen Strand-Larsen said: "Last season was very challenging for me, both physically and mentally. As my first season in the Premier League, I also suffered some injuries. The team's form has been up and down throughout the season, but fortunately, we have successfully turned the situation around through continued hard work and the introduction of key players in the January transfer window. That period of rest played a crucial role in my recovery. Now I feel energetic and ready to face the new season."  

"Everyone walked into the stadium full of confidence and I believe we are ready to achieve better results this season. I firmly believe that the team has the ability to achieve our goals, but it all starts from day one, that is, from now until our first game against Manchester City."  

"Our team has a strong cultural atmosphere, and its members come from many countries around the world. I think going home to reunite with my family is the most important thing. I personally cherish this kind of time very much, and this feeling of being with my family, friends, and brothers and sisters is the most precious. Such a rest can effectively restore the mental state. Although it takes a few days to adjust, once the adjustment is completed, the competition season will come, and we are all fully prepared for the new season."  

“Spending time with my family is very important. Some of my friends can’t come to England to see me every time because they are studying or working. As a footballer, although it seems that you have a lot of free time, you still want to spend quality time with your family and friends. For us, it is not only a physical rest, but also a mental reset, to regain the joy of playing football as a child, to enjoy the fun of football and not think about other things. This is very important.”  

‘You miss those things, for sure. So I think the first few days back were going to be tough. But once I got back into training my only focus was to get in there and score goals, and I felt like I had been working towards that all summer. It was great to be back but that month off was crucial for all of us.’  

"As a new player, you obviously have to present yourself in a different way. Now in the Premier League, surrounded by top players, I feel more mature. I have made good friends and can focus more on football. You have to adapt to a lot of new environments, including a new residence. Everything is unfamiliar, which is indeed difficult."  

"However, people often don't realize how difficult it is, especially having to perform well on the pitch in a strange country. Fortunately, this is an English-speaking country and I can communicate well. In contrast, when I went to Spain two years ago, the situation was completely different because you had to speak Spanish there. Now, in the last few months of the offseason, I am in very good shape and am fully prepared for next season and hope to perform better than last season."