LIAM Sercombe cannot wait to see the rest of the Oxford United squad today – even if the midfielder is not looking forward to what lies ahead this morning.

With 38 days remaining until the Sky Bet League One season kicks off, the players return for pre-season testing.

Spread across Oxford Brookes University and the Kassam Stadium, the U’s will be assessed to make sure they have kept in shape during the summer.

It includes the dreaded VO2 max test, where players sprint on a treadmill for as long as possible.

Sercombe started 55 games last season and showed impressive work rate, but the 26-year-old admits pre-season is not something he relishes.

“I probably won’t be too great with my fitness in pre-season,” he said.

“I’ll always be around average. I like to play games and run around there.

“It’s a mental thing I’ve always had. I do try but it is pretty hard for me.

“They know what I’m like. I’ve been with Procs (Andrew Proctor, United’s head of sports science and medicine) a while, so he knows I will give it my all.

“As long as I’m running in games that’s the main thing for me.”

Although it may take time before we see the best of Sercombe, he expects everyone to return from the six-week break fighting fit.

The former Exeter City man, who scored a career-best 17 goals for the U’s last season, has met up with teammates for gym sessions this month in a bid to ensure he is ready.

He said: “Years ago you could come back with beer bellies, but it’s not like that anymore.

“We got fat-tested before we left and I’m sure they will do it when we come back, so you have to be sensible.

“I’m sure everyone will come back in good shape.

“We had a set programme to follow which gave us three to four weeks complete rest.

“Then from that you build up gradually, doing little runs and going to the gym.

“But the last couple of weeks before you come back it does get pretty hard. You have to do a lot of work.

“You are basically back training within the last couple of weeks, just on your own.

“We can’t wait now. It will be great to be back in the banter that everyone has missed.”