The Reds are being worked hard in Australia as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to implement a high-energy playing style in 2019/20. There were signs of this intensity during the 2-0 victory against Perth Glory at the weekend, with Leeds United up next on Wednesday (kick-off 12:00 BST).
The minutes on the pitch will help develop the individuals' fitness in preparation for the new campaign but Phelan is convinced the right messages are getting through on the training field.
“We're piecing everything together,” he told us. “We've asked the players to do more and we're getting that response from them.