Carbohydrate Availability and Running Performance in Professional Male Footballers

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how different daily carbohydrate intakes affect training performance in professional male football players during a pre-season training week. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does a higher carbohydrate intake affect how much high-speed running and sprinting players complete during football training? * Does a higher carbohydrate intake affect players' jumping performance, perceived effort, recovery, and daily readiness? Researchers will compare two carbohydrate intakes. In one condition, participants will consume a moderate-carbohydrate diet. In the other condition, participants will consume the same base diet plus carbohydrate drinks. The drinks will look and taste similar, but only one type will contain extra carbohydrate. Participants will complete both conditions during two pre-season training weeks. The order of the conditions will be randomized. This means participants will be assigned by chance to start with either the moderate-carbohydrate condition or the higher-carbohydrate condition. During the study, participants will: * Follow a standardized diet during each training week * Drink three study beverages per day during each condition * Take part in their regular team football training * Wear a global positioning system device during training to measure running activity * Complete countermovement jump tests during the training weeks * Report their perceived effort, recovery, and daily readiness This study will help researchers understand whether changing carbohydrate intake during a normal football training week affects training output and recovery-related measures in professional football players.

Inclusion Criteria: * Professional male football player * Outfield player * Member of the recruited professional football team * Available to take part in the pre-season training period * Able to follow the study diet and beverage protocol * Able to wear a global positioning system device during training * Provided written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Goalkeeper * Injured at the start of the study period * Expected to leave the team on loan during the study period * Unable to complete both dietary conditions