OXFORD United line up for their first public pre-season friendly tonight as they make the trip to Vanarama National League side Eastleigh.
United kicked off their pre-season schedule with a 3-1 win against Southampton B in a behind closed doors encounter on Saturday, with two separate sides fielded in each half.
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Simon Eastwood, Stephan Negru and Mark Harris all missed that game, the former two with minor injuries, so working on the impression that trio will miss out again or be on the bench, we predicted the side which U’s head coach Liam Manning may pick this evening.
Be warned though, take this with a heavy pinch of salt – it’s more crystal ball thinking than anything else.
GOALKEEPER
With Brighton & Hove Albion loanee James Beadle starting against the Saints, and Eastwood potentially sidelined, Ed McGinty will potentially get a start in goal. Manning has stated this summer that he will give the former Sligo Rovers stopper opportunities during pre-season, therefore it makes sense for him to start tonight.
DEFENCE
The logic here is that both new defenders, Fin Stevens and Jordan Thorniley, will start from the off, so it was then a case of filling in the gaps around them. James Golding played the second half against Southampton, and having not seen much of him live in games, Manning may opt to give him a start. Ciaron Brown then completes a back four, starting at left back.
MIDFIELD
Having plucked for a back four, how United set up tactically from there is likely to be a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. Manning has four central midfield players at his disposal, and started with Cameron Brannagan and Josh McEachran against Southampton. The likelihood is that different combinations will be experimented in the next few weeks before the season starts, so we’ve plumped for a McEachran and Marcus McGuane duo in the middle of the park.
ATTTACK
New signing Ruben Rodrigues didn’t start against the Saints, so the former Notts County man may well slide into the No 10 role, with Tyler Goodrham and Josh Murphy either side of him on the wings. Goodrham played the second half against Southampton, while Murphy the first period, and again it’s likely Manning will want to see how different options work in the attacking areas. That leaves the centre forward spot, and with Harris getting up to speed with the rest of the group after joining later from Cardiff City, it only leaves Gatlin O’Donkor or a wild card up front. With O’Donkor scoring from the start at the weekend, keeping his place in the side might be a healthy move for the teenage striker.
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About the author
To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/
Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.
Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.
His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.
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