Oxford's United’s squad will visit RAF Benson tomorrow for a two-day team bonding trip aimed at testing them physically and mentally.

Pre-season officially began yesterday, when the players got together for the first time for a meeting to outline the upcoming campaign.

Physical testing will be completed today for those who were not put through their paces at Oxford Brookes last week.

But none of them will see a football until Friday

.

Michael Appleton, U’s head coach, said: “We’re going to do all sorts with them.

“It won’t be constant circuits, assault courses and people screaming and shouting at the players.

“There will be a bit of that I’m sure, but I think there will be a lot of stuff that’s very good for team bonding because players are going to have to communicate to each other with a lot of problem solving.

“They will do physical sessions, but a lot of it will be mental.

“Some will love it, some will hate it, but everyone will benefit from it.

“They don’t know it yet, but the night we stay over will be interesting.”

It will be the first of three times this pre-season United are due to spend time away together.

Next month, they will have six days in Austria, including a friendly against Wiener Neustadt, while they are also planning to hold a get-together at Bisham Abbey in the week before the season kicks off on August 8.