• Wed. Feb 19th, 2025

Kyle Joseph on return to Cheltenham Town with Oxford United

Byoxfordnewspaper

Aug 27, 2022

KYLE Joseph is ready to be tested against a club he is more than familiar with this afternoon.

The striker scored four goals in 22 appearances while on loan at Cheltenham Town in the first half of last season.

The 20-year-old started both games against Oxford United, with the Robins taking four points off the U’s.

Cheltenham claimed a 1-0 win against United in September, before a 1-1 draw on New Year’s Day saw the sides share the spoils at the Kassam Stadium.

That second fixture at Grenoble Road was the last game of Joseph’s loan spell at Cheltenham, before he returned to parent club Swansea City.

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Joseph was recalled early from his season-long deal at Cheltenham, going on to make ten substitute appearances for Swansea in the second half of last season.

Ahead of returning to Gloucestershire this afternoon, Joseph said: “It’ll be another difficult game, being there last year I know the club was all on standards and hard work.

“I took to it really well, it was a fantastic club to be at.

“Here’s the exact same, you’ve got to set yourself high standards and have that determination and hard work as well.

“We’ll put all of it together to get a result and play well.”

Joseph expects his former loan side to be a similar proposition to last season, despite changes at the helm.

In June, following almost four years in charge, Michael Duff left for Sky Bet League One rivals Barnsley.

Former Burnley midfielder Wade Elliott was named new head coach to replace Duff, having spent two seasons as first team coach at the club.

Cheltenham find themselves in the relegation zone at this early stage of the season, having won just one of their opening five games in League One.

Elliott’s side was also on the wrong end of a 7-0 home defeat against Exeter City, in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Cheltenham enjoyed a 1-0 win though against the Grecians last Saturday, to kickstart their season.

The Robins were also unfortunate to be dealt a difficult set of opening fixtures – hosting newly relegated Peterborough United on the opening day, followed by games against fellow relegated side Barnsley, and Portsmouth.

Despite the departure of Duff, and the sluggish start to the campaign, Joseph said United need to match them on the pitch this afternoon if they’re to get a result.

He said: “That’s what they’re based on, being a team that’s tough to beat.

“But we’ve got to be a tough team to play, I came here last year and I thought it was a tough game.

“I walked off the pitch thinking that’s physically draining, but we’re a tough team to beat as well.

“We’ve got to run over teams and that’s the way it’s got to be this season.”

Joseph netted his first goal for United last weekend, in the 1-1 draw with Morecambe, equalising eight minutes after Jensen Weir had given the Shrimps the lead.