CAMERON Brannagan admits he is as keen as anyone to see Oxford United add to their squad before the start of the season.

Karl Robinson’s side are training today as they gear up for their Sky Bet League One opener at Sunderland on Saturday.

While the wait goes on to get signings over the line, Gavin Whyte’s exit to Cardiff City could be confirmed today.

Brannagan says all the remaining players can do is focus on the job in hand, but the midfielder knows they are in need of reinforcements.

“Of course,” he said. “I’m not going to say we don’t, because it’s obvious to see that we do.

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“We need a striker and maybe another centre back. We do need players, that’s the way it is.

“The more competition the better because people want to be fighting for the shirt at the end of the day.

“We need a big squad. It’s all right having an XI, but if people start getting injured it’s a long season.

“We can hopefully get people in and work on that.”

He added: “Everybody has to look after themselves at the end of the day.

“You’ve just got to keep your head down and work hard every day to make sure you’re starting every week.”

With United looking thin on the ground after a frustrating summer, the prospect of a visit to the title favourites on the opening day looks daunting.

But Brannagan, who played in both 1-1 draws with the Black Cats last season, takes a different view.

He said: “I’d love to play Sunderland every week, they are the best games.

“You can’t beat it, you’re playing in front of 40,000 against a top side.

“If you want to play at the highest level you’ve got to go and do that every week. That doesn’t faze me one bit.

“I don’t look at them as world beaters. We should have beaten them twice last season.

“We’re going into the season fired up.

“I can’t wait and neither can the boys.”

The 23-year-old clocked up 53 appearances last season in what was his first campaign playing week-in, week-out.

But he has been wishing the summer away ever since it started.

He said: “I’ve felt ready since day one.

“I kept myself in good shape in my time off.

“We finished on quite a high last season and I didn’t want to stop.

“I was doing quite a bit in the off-season, so I’ve come back and feel good.

“Hopefully we can take that into the season and do well.”