LIAM Manning says he will give his entire Oxford United squad the chance to stake a place in the team during the club’s opening pre-season friendlies.
Having returned for training on June 26, followed by flying out to a sports facility near Alicante for a week of warm weather training, United kick-off their pre-season schedule today when they welcome a Southampton B side to the county.
U’s head coach Manning said he aims to give most players 45 or 60 minutes for today’s game, ahead of further friendlies against Eastleigh, Swansea City and Bristol City next week.
Pre-season then wraps up with a home clash against Sky Bet Championship side Queens Park Rangers on July 29, ahead of the League One curtain-raiser at Cambridge United on August 5.
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Manning said: “For me, everybody in the first few games has got the opportunity to fight to get in the team come the first game of the season.
“That doesn’t change as we get closer. Even for QPR, there’ll be tweaks from QPR to when we play Cambridge.
“Everything’s nice for the players and the staff at the minute but the closer you get and you start to show your hand in terms of team, it’s then about players stepping up and fighting.”
United travel to Vanarama National League outfit Eastleigh on Tuesday evening, with the first public pre-season friendly on home soil coming up against Championship side Swansea next Friday.
Another behind closed doors friendly will be held at second tier Bristol City’s training ground the following day. The U’s then welcome QPR on July 29.
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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.