It is a 7,000-mile round trip to chilly Almaty, where temperatures are expected to be well below freezing for tomorrow's match, and the first of two eight-hour flights is now over following our arrival in Kazakhstan for our first-ever visit to that country.

Enzo Maresca has taken a squad of 20 on the long trip east, including several young players from our Academy, and they departed Cobham already wrapped up warm after making their final preparations for the game in this morning's training session.

Here are some of the best photos from our journey to Kazakhstan...