Excitement is building at Oxford United with three new faces already joining Liam Manning’s squad ahead of the new season.
Ruben Rodrigues, Jordan Thorniley and Josh McEachran will all report for training when the U’s return in a week’s time and as Portuguese forward Rodrigues told us, it’s not just the fans who are looking forward to what lies ahead.
“I am very excited to get started” he told iFollow. ”The Manager and the way he plays and the ambition the club has is very impressive and then you look at the facilities which are amazing and everything falls into place.
“When I went to the National league I underestimated it, I think and it took me a while to settle but I won’t do that again, I have worked hard, trained hard and I look forward to making the most of this wonderful opportunity. I loved my time at Notts County but I wanted to test myself at this higher level. I like to create and people say I’m a flair player so hopefully the fans like to see someone trying to make things happen. Fans come to games to be entertained so I want to do that. “
For Jordan Thorniley it’s a chance to build on a successful loan spell two seasons ago that made him a big favourite with the fans:
“I enjoyed my first spell and was disappointed when it got cut short” he said “but I was really happy when the club came back in for me. Speaking to the Gaffer I know this is the right place for me to come. Because it’s a permanent move it should help as well: it helps with plans for everyone and it’s clear that the club’s ambitions match my own. But just because I have signed permanently does not mean I am about to take my foot off the gas. It’s important to keep standards high and I’m ready to go again.”
Even after returning to Blackpool last season, Jordan couldn’t resist keeping an eye on the U’s…
“I went to see them at Wigan” he laughs! “I had a free midweek and went to the game with a couple of mates thinking nobody would recognise me. But I should have know that there would be loads of Oxford fans there, even all those miles from home in midweek!
“I’ve had a taste of Championship football now and that’s my ambition now, to get back there with Oxford and to win promotion.”
And for local lad Josh McEachran, playing for home home town club fullfils a lifelong ambition:
“I’ve been watching Oxford since I was six or seven years old” he said. “I have seen games at the Manor and the Kassam. It has always been my ambition to play for the club, back where it all started, and I can’t wait now.
“I worked with Liam at MK and the first season was unbelievable, working with him and Chris Hogg, and I can’t wait to work with them both again. Liam is one of the best coaches I’ve worked with and has some great ideas so it’s a very exciting time to come back to Oxford. I have had so many messages wishing me well and I know that season tickets have been selling really well so it’s an exciting time both for me and for the club.”
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