Oxford United’s players were all in high spirits on the first proper day of pre-season training yesterday.

But while striker James Constable admitted there was a real buzz about the place, he knows the squad are aware that the serious work starts now.

The U’s came back to work on Friday and Saturday for tests to check that they had kept to their summer training schedules and were in decent shape.

But yesterday saw the real pre-season training start, and Constable says it gets no easier each year.

“We know there’s no excitement to be had for the first few days of pre- sea-son,” he said.

“We know it’s going to be hard work, which it always is, but it’s just part of it. It’s great to be back though.

“You look forward to the break at the end of the season, but you soon just want to get going again.”

He added: “It’s nice to see a few footballs out there, but they will probably be just for the goalkeepers. Us outfield players know we have lots of running to do.

“All the hard work is worth it because we have got a big season ahead of us and we need to be in the best possible shape for that.”

United’s four new faces – David Hunt, Jon Meades, Danny Rose and Josh Shama – were all straight in the swing as a number of stretching exercises were followed by timed runs.

Banter between the squad, both new and old players, was flying around straight away, something Constable says is key.

“There are a few new faces here and I’m sure there will be more to come. It’s always an exciting time with the start of a new squad,” he said.

Rose has returned to the club for a second spell, but says there is a completely different feel about the place this time around.

“Everything’s changed massively,” he said.

“We were training at Milton then and you just look at everything now and it’s great. Everything about the club is so much better.”