OXFORD United have changed their festive training schedule following the postponement of Sunday's trip to Portsmouth.

The U’s squad will now get Christmas Day and Boxing Day off, although head coach Karl Robinson will watch New Year’s Day opponents Cheltenham Town take on Plymouth Argyle.

The players are in today, before swapping the training ground for nearby Shotover Country Park tomorrow.

Read also: Karl Robinson on Oxford United's Covid situation

United teams of yesteryear tested their fitness up and down the hill and Robinson reckons it will be a good challenge.

The U's head coach said: “We’re going to do something different, we’re rolling back the years.

“We’ve looked at some of the archives where players have vomited whilst running and playing for Oxford United.

“We’re going up to Shotover and we’ll run them up that.

 

Ron Saunders leads Oxford United players on a run through Shotover in 1969

Ron Saunders leads Oxford United players on a run through Shotover in 1969

 

“It’s a bit of a throwback, but there’s no harm in looking backwards when you look at what it did for some players back then.”

Robinson added: “I go running nearly every day and go up there once or twice a week.

“If I can get up there, I’m sure these athletes can do it as well.”

After a weekend off, players and staff will be back at Oxford Sports Park on Monday as they build up to Wednesday's visit of AFC Wimbledon in Sky Bet League One.

It follows the club's first blank Boxing Day since 2010.

Players and staff can at least spend Christmas at home with their families, rather than at the training ground and a hotel.

Robinson said: “The big thing for us is we can enjoy Christmas Eve.

“I’m sure the players will safely enjoy it with families and have a Christmas Day morning that they’ll remember for a long time, because it doesn’t come around too often.”