Form
Oxford United were relegated from the Championship last season after finishing 22nd in the league, four points adrift of safety. This ended their two-year stay in the second tier, having been promoted from League One in 2024 via the playoffs.
They have had a strong start to the season, currently sitting fourth in the league, two places but only one point ahead of Reading in sixth. Their recent form has been strong and they are unbeaten in nine league games, with their last loss coming against top-of-the-table
Huddersfield Town at the start of September.
They come into this weekend’s game off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Barnsley, after Mark Harris scored a second-half equaliser. The two sides last faced each other in the 2023/24 season, with neither side able to claim bragging rights, after playing out two 1-1 draws.
The boss
Aaron Ramsey: Ramsey was appointed head coach of Oxford this summer, taking over from Matt Bloomfield, who was sacked after United’s relegation from the Championship.
Ramsey had an almost 20-year career as a player and was a midfielder who represented the likes of Cardiff City, Arsenal, Juventus and Nice. The Welshman also represented his country, picking up 86 caps.
Ramsey had his first taste of management during his second spell at Cardiff City in 2025, where he became caretaker manager for their final three games of the season after the sacking of Omer Riza. He left the Bluebirds that summer and went on to have a short spell in Mexico before retiring from playing earlier this year.
His first full-time managerial role began this summer when he became Oxford’s head coach, and he has had a good start to life in charge, with the club sitting fourth in the league after only one loss so far.
The 35-year-old wants his side to play possession-based football.
Squad
It was a quiet summer at the Kassam on the transfer front with Oxford under a transfer embargo after breaking financial fair play rules.
They did manage to sign one player before the embargo was enforced, with former Hearts defender Frankie Kent joining the club on a free transfer. They were also able to bring two players in on loan, with midfielder Kai Andrews moving from Coventry City and winger Luka Lynch arriving from Aston Villa.
On the coaching front, Royals fans will recognise a familiar face in the dugout, with Chris Gunter joining Aaron Ramsey’s coaching team as his assistant.
Goalkeeper Jamie Cumming was sent off at the weekend and may miss this Wednesday’s game if Oxford’s appeal does not go their way. Summer signing Kent will definitely be missing due to an ACL injury.
Expected setup
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Style: Possession-based, playing out from the back.
Lineup: Eastwood, Spencer, Helik, Long, Currie, Sibley, Brannagan, Lynch, Goodrham, Dembele, Harris
Key player
6. Michal Helik: Defender Helik joined Oxford in January 2025 from Huddersfield for an undisclosed fee.
He started his career in his homeland of Poland, representing Ruch Chorzow. Helik secured a move to England in 2020 when he joined Barnsley from Polish side Cracovia. Helik spent two seasons with the Tykes, making 89 appearances before joining Huddersfield in 2022. The 31-year-old made a century of appearances for the Terriers over the course of three seasons, scoring 13 goals.
Since signing for Oxford Helik, has become a key player, already playing 75 times and scoring seven goals. The Pole also has seven international caps to his name since making his debut in 2021.
Helik is an old-school centre-back, who, standing at 6 foot 5, is strong in the air in attack and defence.
One to watch
11. Tyler Goodrham: Winger Goodrham is a product of the Oxford youth system and has been at the club since the age of 14, having joined the club from Reading.
He made his debut for United in November 2019 at 16, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player. Goodrham gained first-team experience during loan spells with Hayes & Yeading and Slough Town.
He became a first-team regular during the 2022/23 season and has gone onto make 168 appearances for Oxford, scoring 20 goals.
Goodrham has been called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad but is yet to pick up a cap for his country. The 23-year-old can play on either wing and is known for his tireless running and eye for goal.
