THIS month marks the end of an eventful decade at Oxford United – and we need you to pick your best XI from the past ten years.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be holding a series of votes on this website, with the full side announced over the festive period.

A shortlist by position will be put forward, with the only restriction being they must have made a minimum of 40 appearances for the U’s.

Your decision should be based on what the players have done for the club since January 1, 2010.

As we are picking both centre backs, the two players with the most votes will be selected.

Oxford Mail:

Jake Wright, 281 apps

No-one featured in more games for Oxford United this decade than Jake Wright, who is also the only player to figure in both promotion seasons.

He signed initially on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2010, going on to become a regular as the U’s held their nerve to go up to League Two via the play-offs.

From there he was one of the first names on the teamsheet for the next six seasons.

Chris Wilder handed him the captain’s armband and Wright, who had a fierce will to win even in training, led by example.

He was still there in 2015/16 as an integral part of Michael Appleton’s successful side before moving on to Sheffield United that summer.

Also read: Oxford United team of the decade vote - goalkeepers

Also read: Oxford United team of the decade vote - right backs

Also read: Oxford United team of the decade vote - left backs

Oxford Mail:

Johnny Mullins, 149 apps

The defender made a big impact on loan from Rotherham United in 2012, scoring twice in eight games.

Having returned to the Millers to help them win promotion, the U’s moved that summer to bring Mullins back on a permanent deal.

Not the biggest centre back, the charismatic Londoner read the game well and was comfortable with the ball at his feet.

He also had an eye for goal, jokingly giving himself the nickname ‘the Magnet’ after a productive start to the 2013/14 season.

He went on to play at least 40 games in each of the next three seasons, going on to skipper United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley.

Although they lost to Barnsley, Mullins was part of the side which won promotion a month later.

Oxford Mail:

Chey Dunkley, 96 apps

Brought in as a raw 22-year-old from Kidderminster Harriers in November 2014, it took time for Dunkley to settle.

He made just nine appearances across the rest of the season, but the powerful defender’s influence grew during the following promotion campaign.

Fitness issues for both Wright and Mullins opened the door for Dunkley, who performed so strongly he kept his place during the run-in even when both his experienced teammates were fit.

He was the only one of the trio to stay with the club after promotion and went on to make 52 appearances in the following campaign – United’s highest finish of the decade.

Oxford Mail:

Curtis Nelson, 121 apps

Signed via a tribunal after captaining Plymouth Argyle to the play-off final in 2016, he was brought in to partner Dunkley.

An injury meant it took time for the pair to gel, but when they did it helped United to a memorable campaign.

Handed the captain’s armband by Pep Clotet in 2017, Nelson’s progress was halted by a ruptured Achilles in November 2017.

He recovered ahead of schedule to make it back in the side before the end of the season.

Despite declining to enter talks over a new contract, which saw Karl Robinson remove the captaincy, Nelson made 55 appearances last season before signing for Cardiff City.

Oxford Mail:

John Mousinho, 108 apps

Joined on deadline day in August 2017 and quickly became a leader in the changing room.

He took on the captaincy during Nelson’s long injury lay-off and became a key figure in a campaign which threatened to come off the rails.

Mousinho’s courage was summed up in the penultimate home game of the season, when Karl Robinson’s relegation-threatened side trailed Rochdale, stepping up to power in a penalty to calm the nerves.

While many fans were unconvinced about him as a centre half, his return to midfield last season was viewed as a key move in turning a wretched start around.

But the 33-year-old has impressed this season back as a centre half, keeping summer signing Elliott Moore out of the side.

Oxford Mail:

Rob Dickie, 89 apps

Joining from Reading in January 2018, Dickie had a similar start to his United career as Dunkley.

Forced to wait for his chance, it took him time to settle and by his own admission found it tough in a struggling side at the start of his first full season.

But since the turn of the year Dickie has come on leaps and bounds, particularly since returning in pre-season.

Quicker than he looks, good in the air and increasingly adept on the floor, the 23-year-old looks to have everything to succeed at a higher level.

United just hope it will be with them.