As Oxford United prepare for their sixth successive season in League One, the club will be looking to surpass their previous two playoff finishes and secure promotion to the second tier. Here are five Oxford United players to look out for this season.
Five Oxford United Players to Look Out for in the 2021/22 Season
Defensive Stability
Despite finishing sixth in League One last season, Oxford United had the worst defensive record of any of the top nine clubs in the division. Losing the duo of Josh Ruffels and Rob Atkinson has been far from ideal, but the U’s have a promising young goalkeeper and new addition at left-back to keep an eye on.
In goal, 24-year-old Jack Stevens has come on leaps and bounds since dislodging Simon Eastwood from his number one spot last season. The goalkeeper kept 13 clean sheets in 33 League One outings last term and was on hand to make some vital penalty saves.
Linked with a move to Aston Villa, Oxford will have to fight to keep hold of the young goalkeeper and another top season at the club may make that task even harder, but he is an asset for the club.
A new face through the door, Steve Seddon will be looking to make an immediate impact following his arrival from Birmingham City. The left-back has replaced long-serving Josh Ruffels, who left to join Huddersfield Town. However, unlike Ruffels, Seddon is naturally a left-back, with the former converting to the role from a midfielder. His natural ability should help the club both in attack and defence and his addition could be significant.
Midfield Dynamism
The U’s have really strengthened in midfield with five of the seven summer signings playing in the middle of the park and attacking wide areas. Four of them are also returning to the club for a second spell with Marcus McGuane and Gavin Whyte ones to watch out for.
McGuane joined the club last summer on loan from Nottingham Forest. The former Arsenal and Barcelona man impressed before injury halted his campaign in January. However, the club managed to bring the central midfielder back on a permanent basis and he will have something to prove.
Another player with something to prove is Whyte. The Northern Ireland international joined the club from NIFL side Crusaders in 2018 for around £100,000 and was sold to Cardiff City just 12 months later for £2 million.
However, his time in South Wales hasn’t quite gone to plan and the winger spent six months on loan at League One winners Hull City last season. Back in Oxford, the 25-year-old will be looking to excite the Yellow Army once again and it could be a top addition to Karl Robinson’s side.
Lethal Attack
The next player needs no introduction to fans of Oxford United but his goals will be key in achieving a top-six finish for a third successive season. Striker Matty Taylor has bagged 36 goals from 89 appearances since returning on loan to his boyhood club two seasons ago before Oxford signed him permanently last summer from Bristol City.
The 31-year-old will once again be the main focal point in attack, with experience in Sam Winnall and the raw talent of Dan Agyei also looking to find the net on a more regular basis this season should Taylor be absent.
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