There has been plenty of goings-on this week at Oxford United. On Tuesday, the club lost 12 players through self-isolation before losing one more on a transfer away from Grenoble Road. There were a couple more pre-season games before Steve Seddon became the club’s fourth signing of the window.
Oxford United Weekly Round-Up: Self-Isolation, Pre-Season Friendlies and Steve Seddon
Coronavirus Hits the Club
On Tuesday, the club broke the news that 12 of the club’s first-team squad would have to go into self-isolation after three of the players tested positive for coronavirus.
Everyone has since tested negative, but the news comes as a big blow with the start of the season fast approaching while these players will miss ten days of pre-season.
Sean Clare Departs
Later that day, the club announced that Sean Clare had left the club to join League One rivals, Charlton Athletic.
The 24-year-old had only joined the summer before but struggled to settle at Oxford. Naturally a midfielder, he was signed as a right-back but it ultimately backfired and was loaned out to Burton Albion in January.
He joins the Addicks for an undisclosed fee and has signed a two-year deal at the Valley.
Depleted Oxford Side Hit Nine Past Hayed and Yeading United
With 12 of Karl Robinson’s squad in isolation, a depleted Oxford side took to the field to take on Hayes and Yeading United. However, judging on the final scoreline, it would have been reasonable to assume that the U’s fielded a full-strength side.
Matty Taylor, one of the few senior players, bagged himself a first-half hat-trick while left-back Michael Elechi also got on the scoresheet before the interval.
Taylor added his fourth seven minutes after the break before Tyler Goodrham added a sixth. Derick Osei Yaw struck either side of a Joel Cooper brace as the U’s ran out 9-0 winners.
Young U’s Win at Banbury United
Goals from Gatlin O’Donkor, Osei Yaw and Goodrham secured another win for a young Oxford team against local side, Banbury United.
While it was an inexperienced starting line-up, U’s boss Karl Robinson will take plenty of positives from the performance, with many also playing just 24 hours earlier.
Steve Seddon Joins the U’s
Oxford United have finally signed a left-back to replace Josh Ruffels, who left to join Huddersfield Town last month.
Twenty-three-year-old Steve Seddon has joined the U’s on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee from Championship club, Birmingham City. The defender has spent time on loan at Stevenage, AFC Wimbledon and Portsmouth, while making 12 senior appearances for the Blues.
It will sure up an inexperienced defence following the losses of Ruffels and Rob Atkinson, with Seddon having already surpassed 100 appearances in the Football League.
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