FIN Stevens is relishing the extra competition being brought about as Oxford United continue to welcome players back from injury, while also making additions in the January transfer window.
Left back Greg Leigh made his comeback from a calf problem in the win at Carlisle United, while Sam Long was due to return at the weekend, prior to the home clash with Northampton Town being postponed.
On top of that duo, Stephan Negru and Josh Murphy are expected back this week, leaving U’s head coach Des Buckingham with more options at his disposal.
Brentford loanee Stevens said: “It’s always good to have players come back, and to have a couple in each position.
“It makes you work harder to have that position, and get minutes, so it’ll push the team forward, and push the players forward.”
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Meanwhile, United have signed goalkeeper Jamie Cumming, winger Tyler Burey and striker Will Goodwin during the transfer market, with Kyle Edwards also joining on a permanent basis until the end of the season.
Goodwin is recovering from a minor quad injury, and will join full training later this month, but Stevens has been impressed by both Cumming and Burey.
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He said: “They’ve been good around the group. It’s quite easy to settle in here, and they’ve been getting to know everyone in the building, and the style of play.
“Jamie was really good on his debut, and Tyler’s settling in well. He’s training well and waiting for his chance to show what he can do.
“You can definitely see what he’s all about. He’s quick, he’s nippy, and he’s got a few skills in the locker, so hopefully he can bring that out when we play games.”
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Discussing the promotion race in Sky Bet League One, Stevens said: “It’s tight up there. We’ve just got to take it game by game, try and get the wins in, and try and get as close to the top of the table as we can.
“All the players and all the staff have got a really good feeling, and we all know that we’re good enough, and that the squad’s good enough that we can definitely be in and around it.”
The U’s have been playing with a three-man central defence since the New Year’s Day win at Charlton Athletic, a tweak which Stevens is enjoying.
He said: “It’s been a bit of a switch, going from playing in a back four to a back five. I’m playing a bit higher, but I think I’ve done well there and got a few assists, which has been nice. I’ve just got to push on from there.
“They [Brentford] like full backs who can bomb on and get crosses in, and can do the offensive side of the game, so for me to show that I can produce that and do that is really good for me.”
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