PEP Clotet says Kemar Roofe played a role in him taking over as Oxford United boss.

The pair will be reunited tomorrow as the U’s visit Leeds United in their final pre-season friendly.

Clotet was assistant to Garry Monk, who signed Roofe for £3m a year ago – with the game at Elland Road one of the clauses in the deal.

The Spaniard is looking forward to catching up with Roofe, whose glowing recommendation about his time at United left a lasting impression well before he applied for the manager’s job in June.

Clotet said: “I have a very good relationship with Kemar. We worked together for a year at Leeds.

“He was a fantastic player for us and he will be a better player next season because he’s had the experience.

“I spoke to him a lot during the season about Oxford because I was interested in where the players came from.

“From those conversations I had an impression of what Oxford was like.”

United, who stand to receive a cut of the ticket receipts from today’s game, travel to Yorkshire today and will have a session at Leeds’ training ground.

The fixture is well-timed, allowing Clotet to travel north yesterday to watch the U’s opening-day opponents, Oldham Athletic, in action at home to Spanish top-flight side Girona last night.