Contracting glandular fever may not have been entirely bad news for Eddie Pepperell.

Pepperell works closely with his two coaches, Martin Morbey and Nick Mitchell, and sees a psychologist with the England squad.

And he says his mental game has benefitted from his break due to illness.

Pepperell had to pull out of the Home Internationals after the first day with what turned out to be glandular fever.

He said: “I’m feeling better, but it has taken from August to now to get myself better.

“On the physical side I am not as strong as last year, but mentally I’m in better shape.

“It will be interesting to see how I feel in tournaments.

“I haven’t put as many hours into my practise, but I have had more chance to think and talk with my coaches about how I can improve.

“I just think it was tiredness that caused it.

“I had played lots of tournaments in the period leading up to the Home Internationals.

“I went to a few places around the world and had a couple of late nights, and then you would have to get up really early.

“I wasn’t really getting any sleep. I was tired and maybe a little dehydrated.”