OXFORD United are hoping to invite more of their greatest players back to the club after three legends joined in training yesterday.

James Constable, Joey Beauchamp and Peter Rhoades-Brown rolled back the years with the U’s first team.

The trio joined in a light warm-up, as well as passing and shooting drills at the club’s Horspath base.

Boss Karl Robinson has often spoken about his players being made more aware of United’s history and is hoping it was the first of many visits from former stars.

He said: “It’s an honour for us to have them here.

“When you put the amount of league games they have had together, it’s an awful lot and they’re always welcome back, especially the likes of Joey.

“He’s an Oxford boy and it should be his home and somewhere he can come.

“Next year, we’re looking at having coffee mornings once a week where the ex-players can have breakfast with the players, read the papers and talk.

“I want that connection and understanding of where we’ve been, but also how important this football club is to the community.”

Rhoades-Brown, now the club’s business development manager, helped the U’s win back-to-back promotions into the First Division in the 1980s.

The 57-year-old enjoyed the workout and hinted at a few more names that are in line to visit in the future.

He said: “I’ve made a few phone calls, obviously many lads are working now, they’ve got proper jobs.

“Brooksy (Jamie Brooks) couldn’t make it but said he would love to another time, Paul Simpson said he would come down and I spoke to Paul Moody – everyone thinks it’s a great idea.”

Constable, known as Beano, netted 106 goals for the U’s between 2008-2014 and is now patron of Oxford United in the Community – the club’s official charity.

The U’s climbed out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone at the weekend and the 34-year-old felt the current crop of players would have benefited from the visit.

He said: “With the situation the club are in, this is probably a nice way of taking a little bit of pressure off and having a little fun.

“To have a bit of a light-hearted morning is probably a great thing for them and obviously for us it’s fantastic to be invited.”

Beauchamp made more than 400 appearances for the side during two spells, making his debut in 1989 and scoring on his final game in 2002.

The 48-year-old enjoyed being a footballer again, if only for a few hours.

“It’s nice to come up and be involved in the dressing room banter – it’s a privilege to be invited,” he said.

“I’m well looked after and any time they need me I will come up.

“Driving to the training ground brought back all the memories, it was a strange feeling walking in with my kit bag.”

Meanwhile, Rob Hall and Jon Obika, both out for the season with knee injuries, returned to training with some light running yesterday.