OXFORD United have two new faces leading fitness and sports science at the club.

Chris Neville has been appointed director of performance and will look after the academy and women's programme, as well as the first-team.

Meanwhile, Harry Routledge is the new head of sports science, taking the role vacated by Chris Short last month.

They will be introduced to U's players tomorrow when they return for the first day of pre-season.

Experienced strength and conditioning coach Neville joins the U’s following spells with the England men's team, Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers.

He worked with the national side between 2012 and 2016 under Roy Hodgson, including at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Neville also had two spells at Portsmouth when the south coast club were in the Premier League, as well as a period in the USA as LA Galaxy's performance specialist.

He told the U's official website: “It’s an exciting new role, one I’m very much looking forward to.

"The players were in good shape under Chris Short - he is someone I have known a long time and brilliant at what he does.

"My role is to come in and build on that very solid foundation but also just to make sure that best practice and the way we do things runs right through the club.

“I have been really impressed by the facilities and the investment the club has already made, not just in gym equipment but also monitoring, technology, medical, nutrition and everything we need to make sure the players are fit and robust for what is always a very long and challenging season.”

Neville has also worked at Swindon Town and Blackburn Rovers, with the latter club having previously employed Routledge's services too.

The new sports science chief has an impressive CV that includes periods in Australia and America.

Routledge was at Watford when they were in the Premier League and was also a sports science and nutrition consultant to defending Wimbledon singles champion Simona Halep. 

He also had good news about a trio of Oxford United players, adding: “First of all, I want to thank Karl and the staff for making me feel so welcome.

"I already feel part of the Oxford United family and it’s an exciting week with the players back.

"I’ve already worked with Sam Long, Marcus McGuane and John Mousinho, who have been in all summer, and they are in good shape.

"They should be part of pre-season right from the start which is great.

“I have worked at Watford, then in LA and then most recently at Fleetwood where I really enjoyed my time and saw first hand what League 1 football is all about.

"Chris and I will work with Amy Cranston and the medical team, Jasmine Campbell the club’s nutritionist, and obviously with Karl and the coaches, all with one aim: to give the players the best possible chance of achieving success.”