DES Buckingham has spoken about how Oxford United offered the chance for Idris El Mizouni to play in an advanced role during the talks to sign him in the summer.
The 24-year-old midfielder joined from Ipswich Town in July for a fee understood to be close to £400,000, and has seen his performances for the U’s rewarded with a call-up to the Tunisia squad.
Paris-born El Mizouni has so far won just the one international cap, back in June 2019, when he came on as a substitute during a 2-0 friendly win against Iraq.
Tunisia face Madagascar and Gambia in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday and Monday respectively.
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Prior to the start of the current season, El Mizouni had made just one start and three substitute appearances in Sky Bet Championship, for the Tractor Boys during the 2018/19 campaign.
He’s featured in all 15 of United’s league games this season though, making 10 starts, while his only goal of the campaign so far was the winner in the 1-0 victory at home to Stoke City in September.
U’s head coach Buckingham said: “It’s been a big step up. We brought him here because of the type of player he is, but also what we thought we could help him become.
“He’s adapted to life like many of the others here as quickly as he could, and he’s been able to show what he can do.
“To get a call-up is the first bit, and now it’s about him getting on the pitch. We’ll all support him and encourage him for this break.
“Hopefully he gets on the pitch, but the main thing is what he has done in the short space of time he has been here has been recognised by his country.
“If he can get on the field, it will be a proud moment for him and his family.”
When El Mizouni joined United, he arrived with a reputation as a midfielder who plays box-to-box or in the holding role, following a successful two seasons on loan at Leyton Orient.
However, it’s as an advanced midfielder that El Mizouni has broadly featured for the U’s.
Buckingham said: “When we spoke about bringing him here, we spoke about the position we see him playing.
“We wanted to move him forward, we felt he had the skillset to do that, and that was the one thing he was looking for in a club.
“He’d played as a single six or deeper, and was keen to try and change that, and get himself further forward, so the fit was very good for both at the time. He’s adapted to that very well.”