Chris Wilder aims to steal a march on the opposition by ensuring his Oxford United players are in peak condition when they kick off their npower League Two campaign at Rotherham on August 6.

As Oxford’s players returned for the first day of pre-season training at their new Roman Way base yesterday, the United manager said it was vital that the club stayed on top of the latest advances in sports science.

And they were certainly feeling the heat as temperatures approached 90F.

“It’s a lot more scientific now,” said Wilder, who says pre-season is much more advanced now than from his days as a player with Sheffield United and Rotherham.

“It was more about physical stuff then. Today we had a nutritionist up here, and we have Andy Dubowski (strength and conditioning coach) and physio (Jon Brown) on the staff, who have very important roles.

“The physio is going to be busy to make sure the players get through this period injury-free. We look at everything we possibly need to get that winning mentality into the players.”

Wilder said that they had started working on their training programme six months ago, along with Mickey Lewis, Alan Hodgkinson (goalkeeping coach) and the rest of the backroom staff.

He added: “It’s a combination of the latest advances and of 23 or so years of working in the game.

“I’m always open to new ideas, but we have a set programme.

“It’s no good employing these experts if we’re not going to use them to their full potential.

“Then I will put in what I want into the programme.

“I want to keep up (with the latest advances) and get an edge on people.

“From last season to the first day we walked in the door we have always looked to lift the standard.

“That’s why we have brought in players from higher leagues – to lift the level.

“But you always keep assessing your squads.”