U's look to carry on where they left off as they return to league action
After a superb win over local rivals Swindon Town in midweek Oxford United return to league action when they welcome AFC Wimbledon to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. Beating Swindon in front of 9,000 fans was a great occasion but Head Coach Michael Appleton is calling on his players to maintain the same level of commitment and energy as they go back to League 2 action.
“I think from a physical point of view you protect them and get them right but there’s also the mental side of things which can be more difficult to read with players at times” he told Yellow Player HD this morning. “You have to be on the ball so we just have to make sure that the players are aware of their responsibilities. The fact is that the league is very important to us and what we come here every single day to train for and think about
“Wimbledon are a very effective side. They have a completely different style to Swindon so we have to be on our guard, defend well, win a lot of first and second balls and then when we have the ball we go and play some good football.”
The U’s are without winger Callum O’Dowda who is away with the Republic of Ireland under 21 squad.
“Callum will be a big miss” Michael admitted. “He has matured as a person this year, mentally and physically, and I think he really enjoyed the game the other night as a local lad. He brings a directness and a dynamism. He gives us a little bit extra and can run away from people so we are going to miss that, but we do have a strong squad and there is an opportunity for someone to come in and fill their boots.”
Danny Hylton returns from suspension while midfielder Danny Rose is getting closer to a return after a hip problem.
“He might train today and we will assess him over the next 24 hours” Michael said of Rose. “He is nowhere near as bad as he was in the early part of the week, so he is recovering well, but at the moment he’s 50/50. But we have Hylts available again and we do have options all over the field and we just have to make sure that we pick the right ones.”
See the whole interview plus the thoughts of Johnny Mullins plus our exclusive Preview Show, all in Yellow Player HD right now.
Come and join us this Saturday for another great afternoon of football. Tickets are available to print at home, with no booking fee, from www.oufctickets.co.uk and by phone on 01865 337533