Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey faces Jamie Cumming decision
The U’s boss has a choice to make between starting the former Chelsea goalkeeper in League One for the first time in almost two months or to stick with Simon Eastwood between the sticks.
Cumming started his first match since coming off injured against Stevenage in August in a 2-2 draw (and 4-3 penalty shootout defeat) at Exeter City in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday.
Since the win at Stevenage, Eastwood has started every league match, impressing on his return to the starting place in around three years.
With the Yellows set to face Notts County on Saturday in the their first game back after the international break, Ramsey has a decision to make.
“It is one that is going to be difficult, of course, but…10 other positions already on the pitch are going to be difficult and everybody has their own case and right to want to start again.
“There are many decisions that I have to make that are difficult, but that’s why I’m in this position.
“I’ve got to make these decisions that I feel like it’s best to go and win a game of football.”
So far this season when players have been ruled out through injury, others have stepped up to the mark in their absence.
Eastwood is a fine example, as is academy graduate Mo Missanga.
Harrison Bradney is another youngster who earned his first professional appearance at Exeter, scoring on his debut, and could deputise for the injured Jamie McDonnell.
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“Everybody’s fully committed to the cause, to the way that we want to play and are ready,” Ramsey continued.
“So when those opportunities come up, then they’re ready to take them.
“We try to get the players in the best possible place to be able to influence games and have a real positive impact in them.
“Not just players through injuries, but also impact from the bench has been top this season, so far this season.
“Really pleased with Bradney and the way that he went about his business in pre-season was really good.
“I think he’s a player who has a lot of quality.
“Technically, he’s really good, clean on the ball, plays side-on, so he can play them forward passes, break lines.
“And also he showed a different side as well, where he can get into the box as well and arrive late and get on the end of things.
“Of course we have to be patient with him, but somebody who has definitely caught the eye and thoroughly deserves his start and his goal that he got on Tuesday night.
“So there are opportunities to have here.”
Oxford United face Notts County in the early League One kick-off on their return to action after the international break.
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Brown played all four fixtures for his country during the extended international break and drew praise from all angles for his stellar performances.
The centre back helped Northern Ireland to an unbeaten start to their UEFA Nations League campaign in which they won twice and drew twice, securing clean sheets in all of their games.
The Yellows defender scored an unlikely brace in a brilliant 3-0 win over Ukraine for Michael O’Neill’s men.
A 0-0 draw each with Georgia and Hungary and a win in a second clash with Georgia saw Brown enjoy a brilliant start to Group F with his nation.
“It’s, for me, a long time coming to kind of be a consistent part of the team,” the 28-year-old opened up.
“When you’re playing in a team that’s doing so well, there’s obviously always praise.
“I’m obviously buzzing.
“I think it was a great camp for us.
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“I think we’ve got to a point now where our team is, instead of growing into a good team, it’s a good team and it’s continuously growing.
“So it was enjoyable.”
Brown travelled took part in the Northern Ireland camp alongside U’s teammate Brodie Spencer.
“The Ukraine game where we’re 2-0 up and we’re probably looking at each other like, ‘wow, that just happened’,” the defender continued.
“I think [Spencer] was obviously buzzing that I scored.
“I think he came up and said to me, ‘if I wasn’t going to score, I’m glad it’s you’.
“Brodie and I are close. We can have a bit of a laugh on the pitch. But it probably only happens when you’re winning.”
After operating in a back three for the Green and White Army, Brown returns to an Oxford side who play quite differently.
No matter the setup, though, the London-born defender is confident he can bring his form back to OX4.
“I think everyone has different ideas,” he continued.
“Northern Ireland play different from how Oxford play.
“But it’s more just trying to bring the form that I probably carried over from Oxford into Northern Ireland, but now bringing it back and just trying to keep that as the baseline and keep my form and keep…playing well.
“You can bring back all the characteristics you need as a player to play for Northern Ireland; it would be more just the tactical side.
“I think there’s two different game plans, one for Oxford and one for Northern Ireland, which is not bad. It’s just different things.
“But as the characteristics as a player, yeah, I could bring stuff back from Northern Ireland and I could bring stuff from Oxford to Northern Ireland.”
The Yellows return to League One action with a trip to newly-promoted Notts County on Saturday.
The Northern Ireland international was withdrawn after nine minutes in Oxford’s 1-1 draw with Cambridge United before the pause in League One action.
McDonnell then withdrew from the national team squad due to the hamstring injury.
The 22-year-old had started all six of his side’s opening league fixtures before his setback, scoring his first goal for the club in a 4-0 away win at Leicester City last month.
Ahead of the U’s visit to Notts County on Saturday, head coach Aaron Ramsey touched on the extent of the midfielder’s injury.
“He’s still obviously a few weeks away,” Ramsey disclosed.
“He’s still relatively early in his rehab.
“Obviously, Jamie has been fantastic early in the early parts of the season and been instrumental in everything that we’ve built our performances on at the moment.
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“He’s a big miss.
“But we’ve got a squad full of quality players as well who are more than capable of coming in and playing games at a high level.
“So, for us, it’s just making sure that Jamie’s in the best possible place again for when he returns, that he’s ready to hit the ground running again.”
It is likely that the former Nottingham Forest man will be the majority of the remainder of the calendar year due to his injury.
Possible replacements for McDonnell during his absence include Louie Sibley, who came on and impressed in the draw with Cambridge, Tyler Goodrham, should the Yellows opt for a more attacking alternative, and 18-year-old Harrison Bradney, who scored on his professional debut against Exeter in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy on Tuesday.
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