Wayne Rooney will be given a strict Christmas regime to follow to ensure he is fully fit for when he joins Derby in January, reports claim.
The 33-year-old is on holiday in Barbados following the end of the MLS season, having spent the past year-and-a-half with DC United.
DC were thrashed 5-1 by Toronto in the MLS play-offs in Rooney’s final game for the club.
The former Manchester United striker will join Derby as a player-coach on an 18-month deal from January.
And The Mirror claim the Championship club will order Rooney to complete a full pre-season programme before making his debut.
Rooney, who scored 25 goals in 52 appearances in the United States, will become the highest paid player in the Championship on a reported £100,000-a-week deal.
He said upon signing: “I am very excited about the opportunity that Derby County have provided me with.
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“I am looking forward to joining Phillip Cocu, his coaching staff and the first-team squad from the start of January.
“I am sure I can make a big contribution and can’t wait to meet everyone, especially the supporters.
“I am equally excited to begin my coaching career at Derby County working with both the first-team and academy.”
Derby are 15th in the Championship after winning just three of their 12 league games under new manager Cocu.
And their season took another turn for the worse when they suffered a 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Charlton on Saturday.
The Rams have had to deal with off-field problems, too, with Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett pleading guilty to drink-driving charges earlier this month.
A crash occurred on the A6 near Allestree, Derby which caused a season-ending knee injury to captain Richard Keogh, who was travelling as a passenger in Lawrence’s car.