Oxford united FC
Myles Peart-Harris supports Roosken after Oxford return
Left back Roosken saw match action for the first time in eight games – since the 3-0 Championship defeat to Norwich City in February – replacing the injured Jack Currie in the starting line-up.
The Dutchman had a difficult half against Hull winger Mo Belloumi who beat him and opened the scoring after just four minutes before Roosken was made way for Brodie Spencer at half time.
“Ruben hasn’t played in quite a while, so it was always going to be tough, not just for him, but for everybody,” Peart-Harris told BBC Radio Oxford after Good Friday’s 1-1 draw.
“After the mistake – not even a mistake – after that down period he had, he came back and bounced back and I think for the rest of the half he had their right winger in his pocket and it’s good for his confidence.”
Peart-Harris had one of a number of chances against the Tigers, seeing a poked effort saved by goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, in a game that the U’s were disappointed not to have won.
“It feels like a good point,” the former Brentford man said.
“Coming into the game, we knew it was going to be tough. They’re a play-off team. We gave them a good challenge. I felt there were chances that could have won us the game so disappointed as well that we couldn’t get the three points.
“We focus on ourselves and don’t worry about what’s going on around us. Stay hungry, stay chasing other teams.
“Our performances have been well as a group; one loss in six games. If you told us that a couple of weeks ago, we maybe would not have believed it. We’ve come a long way as a group and hopefully on Monday we can look to get that win.”
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It was a windy occasion against the Tigers, the conditions proving tricky for both teams.
“We all said in the warm-up that the wind was going to play a big part,” the 23-year-old continued.
“The first half especially, if we can get in behind them we can use the wind to our advantage. Conditions weren’t great but it was something we had to deal with.”
Peart-Harris returns to Fratton Park on Easter Monday to face Portsmouth where he spent the second half of the 2023/24 season on loan from Brentford.
“I had very good times at Fratton Park, that was my old loan team. It will be a nice touch going back there and playing against them and hopefully scoring a few.”
Matt Bloomfield’s U’s finished 22nd last season and will return to the third division after a two-year stint in the Championship.
With 10 out-of-contract players already out the door, Oxford have maintained a good core of players ready for next season.
There is work to be done to trim the fat of the squad, but there are a few Yellows names who have the opportunity to take the third tier by storm.
Tyler Goodrham
Hopefully the U’s academy product has not been forgotten by fans since his New Year’s Day injury which kept him out for the remainder of the season.
Goodrham shone in his last season in League One, which was a breakout year for the 22-year-old, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in 40 appearances.
After the departure of attacking midfielder Jamie Donley following the end of his loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur, there is an opportunity for the Wycombe-born midfielder to lock down the position.
With a full recovery, pre-season, and two years’ experience at a higher level, there is no reason why a hungry Goodrham cannot take League One by storm next season.
Aidomo Emakhu
After a slow start in OX4, the last few Championship fixtures saw the Irishman find some form and break into Bloomfield’s side.
Emakhu has three years’ second tier experience as an impact substitute with Millwall and Oxford and will relish the potential opportunity to play consistently at a level which he will surely fancy himself at.
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United fans are yet to see the best of the 22-year-old, who recently made his first senior international appearance for the Republic of Ireland.
However, glimpses of direct, pacey, exciting wing play were demonstrated in substitute features against Derby County and Wrexham and a start against Sheffield Wednesday in the Yellows’ final few Championship games.
Jeon Jin-woo
Emakhu and Goodrham will not be without competition.
Jin-woo joined in January from the Korean league where he was highly-rated, but the transition to English football was always going to take a moment.
The 26-year-old made eight appearances for the U’s in the second half of the season but it was not really enough to gage his true ability.
With a pre-season under his belt, Jin-woo has the opportunity to adjust to the English game and rise to the challenge of League One.
Naturally a winger, Bloomfield used the South Korean as an attacking midfielder on one or two occasions off the bench.
The tournament kicks off at 8pm in the UK with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in a replay of the 2010 World Cup opening fixture.
England begin their quest for a first world title since 1966 on Wednesday, June 17, against 2018 finalists Croatia.
Two former U’s men will take to the world stage over the next month, none more so than 2022 champion Emiliano Martinez.
Martinez helped Lionel Messi’s Argentina to victory in Qatar four years ago, winning the golden glove in the process.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper played one match for Oxford back in 2012 after he joined the club on an emergency loan from Arsenal due to injuries to Ryan Clarke and Wayne Brown.
His single appearance was a 3-0 defeat to Port Vale on the final day of the League Two season which also happened to be Martinez’s debut in the Football League.
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Argentina begin their World Cup campaign in the early hours of Wednesday morning against Algeria.
Elsewhere, another former United goalkeeper, Max Crocombe, will be in action for New Zealand.
After joining as a youngster in 2010, Crocombe signed his first professional contract with Oxford in 2012 and spent a further four years at the club.
However, he only made six appearances in that time as he was shipped out on loan four times, including a spell at Banbury United in 2011/12.
The Kiwi left in 2016 and is now at Championship side Millwall, his seventh club since departing OX4.
New Zealand’s first World Cup group game is next Tuesday against Iran, another kick off in the early morning for UK viewers.
The 24-year-old arrives at MEMS Priestfield Stadium after leaving the Yellows last month at the end of his contract.
Godwin joined United from Cheltenham Town in January 2024 on what was described at the time as a long-term deal.
Across his time at Oxford, he has featured intermittently in league and cup competitions, making just 11 competitive appearances and scoring one goal.
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Goodwin officially becomes a Gillingham player on Wednesday, July 1, and has outlined what he feels his strengths are and what fans can expect from him.
In an interview with his new club, the forward said: “After speaking to the manager, his philosophy and playing style suit me to a tee.
“Attacking crosses. I like to get in the box, and having spoken to the manager, he likes his wingers or full-backs to do that [get crosses in], so it seemed like a great move for me to come here and use my best attributes, touches in the box and setting up players for first-time shots.
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“I am really excited to be here; it’s a great club.”
Goodwin says he was keen to get a move sorted quickly so he could get settled in the area before players return for pre-season testing.
He added: “I really wanted to get in early doors and get settled because I knew I’d have to move, so I like to get settled in an area that I may not be familiar with before pre-season starts.
“I don’t know any of the boys here; I have probably played against a few, but it will be like a first day of school.”
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