The summer holiday provided the chance for a much-needed breather.
But Conor Chaplin is delighted to be back on a football pitch and scoring goals in a Pompey shirt.
The striker bagged a brace in Monday evening’s 4-1 friendly victory at Cork after coming off the bench at the start of the second half.
It is part of a week-long trip to Fota Island in Ireland, where the Blues are continuing their preparations for the 2018/19 campaign.
And despite being worked hard in hot conditions, Chaplin is enjoying the chance to get back to what he does best.
He said: “When you’re away on your holidays, it’s a nice break for a week or two, but then you’re itching to get back.
“You end up filling your day with stuff you wouldn’t normally do and just want to be back training with the boys again.
"It’s a nice break for a week or two, but then you’re itching to get back."
“We get a plan from the club to follow over the summer and I kept to that, so I like to think I’m in good shape.
“It felt good to get some minutes in the legs because you can do plenty of running, but it’s completely different to being out on the pitch.
“We had done a lot of shape and set-piece work ahead of the game, while today’s been more of a recovery day – we’ve been in the gym and the pool.
“The facilities are great here and the World Cup’s on, so we’ve spent a bit of time watching the football and are looking forward to the England match.”
Both of the 21-year-old’s goals at Turner’s Cross were teed-up by fellow striker Oli Hawkins and Chaplin is encouraged by how they linked up.
He said: “We get on well – on and off the pitch. He’s a big lad and you can’t really get close to the ball when he’s got it.
“There’s an understanding of where I’m going to be when he’s got the ball and that’s something you definitely work on.”