Oxford United welcome Coventry City to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday (3pm) for their first home friendly of pre-season.
TEAM NEWS
United have won every friendly so far and have remained relatively injury free. Sam Long will miss the game, and Tuesday night's home game against West Brom, but should be available by the start of the season, while trialists Jerome Sinclair and Jodi Jones are both likely to feature after impressing in training and in their appearances so far.
"It will be a good test for us," Karl Robinson told us. "Each game has become slightly tougher so far and Coventry are a strong side with a good manager. They are at the same stage of their pre-season as us; the teams we have played so far have been at different steps in their progression depending when their own season starts. So Saturday will be a chance to see how we go against Championship opposition."
THE OPPOSITION
The Sky Blues are also in good form in pre-season with four wins from four games, including an 8-1 win over Wolves Under 23s on Tuesday.
Boss Mark Robins has added highly rated defender Jonathan Panzo from Nottingham Forest. Panzo worked with Coventry's Assistant Manager Adi Viveash, the former United defender, when they were at Chelsea.
Coventry have former United defender Todd Kane in their squad.
TICKETS
Prices have been reduced to just £10 an adult for this game, £5 for all concessions.
Please note that select blocks in the South Stand Upper, Lower, and East Stand will be open for this game.
The gate behind the Planet IT North Stand WILL NOT be in place so fans can move from one end of the ground to the other behind that stand.
Please park in the West Car Park - the one closest to the cinema and bowling complex at the fence end of the ground.
We have a special guest at the game, with Ryan Lafford leading the teams out. Ryan was diagnosed at the age of four with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. After a long time in hospital he lost all ability to walk and worked extremely hard to get back on his feet again to start school in September. Ryan has undergone three years of treatment and has come on massively, overcoming fears and gruelling treatment, but it’s his love of football and his friends that have kept him pushing through.
Before kick-off Ryan will be ringing a bell to signify that he has completed his treatment.
For further information on signs and symptoms of leukaemia, visit: https://www.leukaemiacare.org.uk/support-and-information/information-about-blood-cancer/blood-cancer-information/signs-and-symptoms-of-leukaemia/
With temperatures rising this weekend we ask all supporters to be sensible:
- Keep hydrated
- Wear suitable clothing to keep cool
- Bring sun cream, sunglasses and a hat ….or treat yourself to an OUFC cap from our club shop.
- Keep an eye on young children, vulnerable persons and the elderly
We have a medical team on site for anyone that feels unwell; look after each other