OXFORD United’s season will be planned out tomorrow with the release of the Sky Bet League One fixture list.

Their 46-game schedule is published at 9am, ahead of the big kick-off on Saturday, August 4.

This campaign will include the first visits to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light and Barnsley’s Oakwell for 20 years, following the pair’s relegation from the Championship, alongside Burton Albion.

Supporters may also be looking out for shorter trips to Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town, who were promoted from League Two with Accrington Stanley and Coventry City.

With the squad reporting back for pre-season training next week, the announcement starts the countdown to the new season in earnest.

For the U’s assistant head coach Derek Fazackerley, it will mark 50 seasons in professional football, but the excitement is just the same as his first.

“Certainly it’s something I look forward to,” he said.

“I’m as keen as anybody to watch the fixtures come out and see where we are in the opening games and start to plot for what we hope will be a successful campaign.

“I’ve done a bit of gardening, played some golf and watched a bit of cricket, but it soon comes round again.

“You’re never off the phone chasing players, agents chasing you.”

United will clock up just under 6,000 miles on their travels, a reduction of 300 from the last campaign.

The 500-mile round trip to Sunderland is the longest journey, with Wycombe at 56 miles the shortest.

As it stands, United are viewed by bookmakers as a general 25/1 shot to claim the title next May.

Sunderland, taken over by U’s fan Stewart Donald in May, are the favourites, while Barnsley, Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth are expected to challenge.

At the other end of the table, Accrington, Wycombe, Gillingham and Walsall are viewed as the most likely candidates for relegation, with United rated as a 10/1 shot to go down.