Oxford United welcome Norwich City to the Kassam Stadium tomorrow (Saturday 12.30) for the U's first game in the Championship since 1999. With a sell-out crowd and the game to be shown live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, there is a real buzz around the place and there's bound to be a great atmosphere.
TEAM NEWS
United will be without Will Goodwin, who has been ruled out for at least six weeks with an ankle injury, while the game probably comes a few days too early for Owen Dale to be involved.
Oxford fans will be hoping to get their first view of new signings Matt Phillips and Malcolm Ebiowei, while Peter Kioso, Will Vaulks, former Norwich winger Przemysław Płacheta, will also be looking to make their debuts after signing during the summer.
THE OPPOSITION
Norwich City finished last season in the Championship Play-Off places, falling in the semi-finals to Leeds United. They are currently missing José Córdoba and former United loanee Ashley Barnes through injury, although there is some hope that Córdoba might make the squad. New signing midfielder Amankwah Forson from Red Bull Salzburg is unlikely to feature.
Norwich boss Hoff Thorup said: "We are ready to go. We have had some good sessions here the last couple of days. We're getting close to knowing what the squad will look like. There's a good energy and dynamic.
"The most important part is what we do but we do have to know what they do as well. Hopefully what you will see is a Norwich team from Saturday to Saturday that looks like Norwich, no matter where we play.
"It has to be clear that we are building something here. We're changing the way we play and perform, the strategy in the club. That needs to be clear from day one. It won't be perfect but we need to perform knowing that."
TICKETS
This game has SOLD OUT. If you do not have a valid ticket for the game you will be unable to gain admission.
PROGRAMME
We have produced a 100-page special programme for the game, selling for the usual price of £4. Full details HERE.
GETTING HERE
With a big crowd, the early kick-off, and the Thames Water works continuing along Grenoble Road by the Science Park reducing the road to a single lane, we ask supporters to leave more time for their journey and use public services where possible. See HERE for details of buses and getting to the Kassam Stadium.
We will advise fans on X (formally known as twitter) on @OUFCOfficial when each part of the car park at the Stadium reaches capacity.
There are around 2,000 free parking spaces at the stadium but we ask everyone to arrive early and park legally.
Please note that the res gate behind the Planet IT North Stand will be closed before and after the game, so pedestrians will NOT be able to move from one end of the ground to the other behind the stand.
The introduction of Parking Eye to the Kassam Stadium will NOT apply from four hours before kick-off and four hours after full-time at all Oxford United home games.
WATCHING THE GAME
As well as being shown live on Sky, the match can also be viewed on OUTV. See HERE for further information.