Oxford United midfielder Simon Clist looks set to miss the start of next season after undergoing a hernia operation, writes JON MURRAY.

The 29-year-old was the only player missing when United’s squad returned to the Kassam Stadium yesterday for bleep tests to gauge their fitness ahead of pre-season training.

Manager Chris Wilder said: “Simon could miss the first couple of games. He’ll possibly be ten days behind the rest, but he’s a fit lad, so it’s not too much of a worry.”

Meanwhile, Oxford United are celebrating their 50th birthday today.

It was on June 25 1960, that permission was finally obtained from the FA for the club to change their name from Headington United to Oxford United.

The club had been trying for some time to change their name to Oxford United, to make the club more recognisable nationally.

But although the Oxfordshire FA had unanimously agreed to the name-change, Oxford City objected and as a result the FA initially rejected the application.

Eventually, the FA granted permission for the change.

They were then known, from the 1960-61 season, as Oxford United. That in turn led to their application to join the Football League being received more favourably than previously.

And the rest, as they say, is history.