OXFORD City’s Spanish contingent will return this week ahead of their pre-season campaign, which begins against Hungerford Town at Newbury Town on Saturday.

Defenders Alejandro-Adrian Santiago and Jose Lapoujade and midfielder Ander Del Alamo are back after a successful debut season.

And they will be accompanied by three new faces – winger Carlos Pifarré Forner from Olímpic de Xà- tiva, midfielder Julen Lafuente, of Deportivo Alavés, and former Real Unión centre half Jon Arzamendi.

The rest of City’s squad have already returned for training ahead of their maiden campaign in National League South and general manager Justin Merritt has been pleased with preparations so far.

“It’s been good to get back and we’re ready for some games now,” he said.

“It’s not just a case of getting everyone back up to fitness, it’s also about embedding those principles of how we play into the new players.

“It’ll be good to get the Spanish players back in because that will certainly help with that process.”

City have lost midfielder Mamadou Fofana, who has opted to join Barrow, but have retained Declan Benjamin, who has signed a one-year deal.

And Merritt has been boosted by the return of winger Mark Bell for his third spell at Marsh Lane, alongside fellow wide man Kynan Isaac, who has been released from Luton Town a year after leaving City to sign for the League Two club.

Merritt said: “If he can get himself in the right place to play football, Kynan could be one of the best players in the league and we’re working hard to push him on.

“He’s 22 now, so he’s not a very young lad any more and I think moving to Luton actually probably set him back a little bit.

“They have a big squad and he never got anywhere near it last season, whereas he had been doing well here before he moved.

“Players obviously want to play full-time, but I think sometimes it’s better for them to be where they can shine.”

Former Swindon Town duo Jake Simpson and Connor Waldon are among the hopeful triallists at City, while Merritt is also hopeful of a loan move for 18-year-old Cheltenham Town striker Jamal Lawrence.