Oxford United’s top new signing, Michael Duberry, believes his age will not be a hindrance when he returns to English football next season – because he has kept himself healthy and fit.

The former Chelsea and Leeds United star, who has had a successful 18-month spell with St Johnstone in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League, will be 36 in October.

But he looked in very good shape when he was unveiled to the media last week after signing a two-year contract with the U’s.

“I look after myself,” he said. “I think you have to. Gone are the days when you can just pile on the pounds and expect to play well.

“There’s so many kids now who are looking after themselves. They are athletes, so if I want to compete at any sort of level, I have to look after myself.”

Duberry has played at club football’s highest level in the Champions League – he was in the Leeds United side that beat AC Milan 1-0 in 2000 – and it’s important to him, he says, that he keeps his reputation intact.

“That’s my thing. I ain’t coming here to let some young kid or some young striker tout my name saying he embarrassed Michael Duberry on a Satur-day,” he said.

“My aim is to do well and make him think ‘what a game he had, he’s a good player’.

“That’s my ambition, and that’s why I stay healthy.

“Don’t get me wrong, I still eat a few Krispy Kremes in the afternoon, but I look after myself.”

Manager Chris Wilder believes it shows how far United have come that they can capture a player of such renown as Duberry, who played nearly 200 games for Chelsea and Leeds United, then captained Stoke City and also played for Reading in the Premier League.

“It shows where we’re going that we can attract someone of Michael’s standing,” he said.

“He wants to win games of football and he’ll certainly add to what we have here.

“Michael could quite easily have stayed in Scotland. I know St Johnstone are really disapp-ointed that he’s going, he was a fans’ favourite up there.

“I think sometimes it can get insular and people don’t know how well players are doing up there.”

Duberry admitted, though, that the rigorous summer programme United have given the players to ensure they stay in shape, will push him hard.

“I’ve seen the physio and the sports scientist and the fitness programme we’ve got during the summer – I’m not looking forward to doing that!

“But I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates and working with the manager and staff. It’s exciting.”