Back In Black

Pre-Season went up a step today when the first team and under 23 squad reported back for the first full day of pre-season.

Saturday saw four groups go through a series of tests to gauge thier levels after the summer but today that was one larger group who had a short gym session before hitting the training pitches at Horspath Road.

Thankfully from their point of view the weekend sun had disappeared to give the cooler conditions as they set off on a series of gruelling runs and exercises under the watchful eye of the Sport Science team.

There were plenty of positives with Rob Hall again completing the full session and Shandon Baptiste building his fitness for most of the session before stepping aside for his own specific rehab exercises.

New boy Alex Gorrin looked an outstanding athlete but the whole squad looked sharp while first year pros Aaron McCreadie and Ryan Crooks and new faces Sam Allardyce and Kevin Berkoe all did well.

Goalkeepers Simon Eastwood, Jack Stevens and Max Harris were part of the full running session while the biggest smile belonged to Malachi Napa, now clear from his virus and full of running. Training continues over the next few days before the squad head for Portugal for a week's training camp where Gavin Whyte and Mark Sykes will join them after their Northern Ireland national squad training this summer.

Training kit will be available in the club shop later in the summer, but the new home shirts are proving very popular with supporters and are available in the club shop now, or online at oufcshop.co.uk