James Constable says he is delighted to see a positive mood surrounding Oxford United as the striker prepares to face the club for the first time since leaving last summer.

The 30-year-old scored 106 goals for the U’s, one shy of equalling the club’s all-time record, before signing for Eastleigh on an emotional day in May 2014.

The Vanarama National club host Michael Appleton’s men at the Silverlake Stadium this afternoon, a fortnight before the start of the season.

Constable said: “I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces in the crowd and a few of the lads who are still there from when I was there.

“I think the best way to describe it is it doesn’t feel like two minutes ago that I was there.

“We had a decent season last year and that probably made it a lot easier, but playing against them now will bring back a lot of good memories and it will be an enjoyable game.”

The striker has not seen the U’s play live since leaving, but has kept a close eye on the day-to-day news at the club.

Watching from afar, Constable is hugely encouraged by the direction in which United are going.

“I’ve spoken to a few people over the summer and I can’t remember it being so positive for a new season,” he said.

“The new pitch, the pre-season tour, everything seems to be dropping into place at the minute and I just hope they go and have a decent season, as we will be.

“Having been there as long as I had, I’m really hoping they go on and have a decent season.”

Constable, who hit 19 goals to help launch the Spitfires into the play-offs last season, is not the only old boy in their squad.

Jack Midson, Yemi Odubade and Josh Payne all featured in Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Newport County.

In the boardroom there is chairman Stewart Donald, a lifelong U’s fan, who earlier this month invested more than £500,000 with a view to acquiring a ten per cent stake in the club.

Constable said: “He’s an infectious person and loves his football.

“He’s desperate for Eastleigh to do well, but he’s also desperate for Oxford to do well.

“It’s nice to have someone like that around, so I can catch up with everything that’s going on.”