After gaining promotion to the Championship for the first time in the 2015/16 season, Burton Albion sought to improve and strengthen their squad for what lay ahead.
It was a busy time at the Pirelli Stadium, with no fewer than 13 players brought in either permanently or on loan deals last summer.
The likes of then-record signings Kyle McFadzean and Jackson Irvine would go on to make big impressions and help Albion book a second successive season in the Championship.
Pre-season is also seen as a chance to see if any free agents can impress and, ultimately, earn a permanent deal.
Six trialists were given a crack by Clough in July 2016 as he looked at whether any could offer something different to his Brewers squad.
We take a look at where those players ended up, with Albion beginning their next pre-season campaign.
Jay Tabb - unattached
The former Ipswich Town and Reading midfielder is still a free agent, having yet to find a club to take him on permanently after his release by the Tractor Boys in the summer of 2016. Tabb - who featured centrally against Leek Town and Stoke City last summer for Albion - failed to make a single league appearance in the 2015/16 campaign for Ipswich.
Hyuga Tanner – Bolton Wanderers
Like Tabb, Blackburn Rovers youngster Hyuga Tanner was offered the chance to impress against Leek Town and Stoke City but was not signed up by Clough, despite the Brewers boss being impressed by the central midfielder's play.
He then opted to sign for then-League One side Bolton Wanderers in September after a successful trial.
On the outset, it looked like working out well for the Australian.
But the Bolton News reported in March that the midfielder will be 'forced' to quit Wanderers this summer, with the EFL having stated Tanner could not be used for first-team games. That has seen him a little in the wilderness at Bolton and without senior opportunities.
Cieron Keane – Kidderminster Harriers
Former Republic of Ireland under-19 left back Keane - who started his career with Notts County and made two League appearances during his time with the Magpies - is currently plying his trade in the National League North with Kidderminster Harriers.
After moving to Harriers from Worcester City on a free transfer earlier this month, the full-back will be hoping to get regular first-team football under his belt after a lack of discipline saw him receive two red cards in only eight appearances for Worcester last term.
He was one of the trialists to appear in Albion's first friendly of 2016 at Leek and started Kidderminster's 4-0 defeat to Derby County on Tuesday night.
Steven Davies – Rochdale
Steven Davies signed a one-year deal for Rochdale last summer, and notched 13 goals for the Dale as they eventually finished in eighth place in League One, three points off the play-offs.
The ex-Derby County striker - who trained with Albion for some time last summer and featured alongside Stuart Beavon in the 3-0 friendly win over Stoke -agreed a contract extension in February to keep him at Spotland until summer 2018.
Ryan Delaney - Burton Albion
Ryan Delaney was the only trialist signed up by the Brewers, joining on a two-year deal from Republic of Ireland side Wexford Youths.
Currently out on loan at League of Ireland Premier Division table-toppers Cork City, Delaney has yet to make a league appearance in an Albion shirt.
He is impressing for Cork, helping them into the second qualifying round of the Europa League last week.
Luke Wakeman
Former Cardiff City goalkeeper Luke Wakeman played 30 minutes in the Brewers’ friendly against Leek Town but was not offered a deal by the Brewers.
