Oxford United’s First Team squad report back for testing tomorrow with two new faces in charge of fitness and sports science.
Chris Neville joins the U’s as Director of Performance, looking after the performance aspects of the club including the Academy and Women’s programme while Harry Routledge joins as Head of Sports Science for the First Team.
Chris told us
“It’s an exciting new role, one I’m very much looking forward to. The players were in good shape under Chris Short- he is someone I have known a long time and brilliant at what he does. My role is to come in and build on that very solid foundation but also just to make sure that best practice and the way we do things runs right through the club
“I have been really impressed by the facilities and the investment the club has already made not just in gym equipment but also monitoring, technology, medical, nutrition and everything we need to make sure the players are fit and robust for what is always a very long and challenging season.”
Harry told us
“First of all I want to thank Karl and the staff for making me feel so welcome. I already feel part of the Oxford United family and it’s an exciting week with the players back. I’ve already worked with Sam Long, Marcus McGuane and John Mousinho who have been in all summer and they are in good shape. They should be part of pre-season right from the start which is great.
“I have worked at Watford, then in LA and then most recently at Fleetwood where I really enjoyed my time and saw first hand what League 1 football is all about. Chris and I will work with Amy Cranston and the medical team, Jasmine Campbell the club’s nutritionist, and obviously with Karl and the coaches, all with one aim: to give the players the best possible chance of achieving success.”