Oxford united FC
Brentford loan ace becoming key figure for Oxford United
After joining on loan from Brentford in January, Konak was thrown straight into the team for Matt Bloomfield’s first game in charge against Bristol City but lasted only 45 minutes before being withdrawn at the break.
“We knew that it was going to take a little bit of time for him to adapt from being at Brentford and being in and around the Premier League squad, but not playing loads and loads of football in the first half of the season,” the Yellows boss pondered after Konak’s standout shift against Watford last weekend.
“And it took maybe a little bit longer than I thought.
“I was hoping to get him straight in the team.”
The Turkish youth international dropped to the bench after his debut, not seeing action until coming on at half-time three games later in a 2-0 defeat to Birmingham City.
Two substitute cameos came in the next five matches, with Konak not making the squad for the away trip to Middlesbrough in February.
But, not only for the 20-year-old but for the whole club, the 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion was a big turning point.
Back into the team for his first start since his January debut, Konak contributed to the win that kicked off a three-game winning run and a streak of just one defeat in eight games that United carry into their next fixture against Derby County.
Since then, the young midfielder has held down his spot in a U’s side which has found consistency in both personnel and performances, keeping the experience of Will Vaulks and the tough-tackling, high potential of Northern Ireland international Jamie McDonnell out of the team.
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Oxford secured an important 2-0 win last time out against the Hornets in which Konak received widespread adulation and the Player of the Match award in the stadium.
The Bees loanee, who hails from a city called Batman in Turkiye, demonstrated his growth since taking the step into men’s first-team football with the U’s, looking visibly more confident, stronger, and popping up all over the pitch to disrupt play.
“He trains really hard. He’s one of the first out every day to train properly,” Bloomfield continued.
“Since he’s come back into the team, he’s grabbed his opportunity and today was probably his best performance to date. We hope that he can keep putting in those type of performances in the next four games for us.
“I think Yunus is going to be a really big player in the future at some point and we’re really fortunate to have him with us for the period that we do.”
Aaron Ramsey’s Yellows won all four of their summer friendlies, rounding off with a 2-0 victory over Premier League club Ipswich Town.
The U’s were hit with a temporary transfer embargo last month meaning they are unable to register any new players until they prove their compliance with the EFL’s Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations.
This means opportunity has risen even further for youngsters and players previously considered on the fringes and competition for places has risen.
Goalkeeper
Jamie Cumming is firmly the number one choice in between the sticks, with veteran Simon Eastwood the only senior alternative.
The 37-year-old did perform particularly well against Barnet, however, reassuring fans that, if worse comes to worst, he would be able to step in relatively comfortably.
Defence
Against Ipswich, Sam Long and Ciaron started together for the first time in pre-season and played for the majority to secure a first friendly clean sheet.
Young centre back James Golding has looked mature whilst the experienced Michal Helik has been solid; Ramsey may prefer the slightly better ball playing of Long and Brown.
Jack Currie and Brodie Spencer will almost definitely be the first-choice full backs, but Greg Leigh has looked back to his best, particularly against Crawley Town, and Peter Kioso has not looked out of place.
Midfield
With Vaulks gone and Brian De Keersmaecker yet to appear since his surgery in February, competition is rife in midfield.
Captain Cameron Brannagan will start, with tough-tackling Jamie McDonnell next to him last time out.
Louie Sibley offers an alternative, but McDonnell has impressed more recently at a higher level than Sibley who struggled both with Oxford and on loan last season.
The real chance comes for young Harrison Bradney who has impressed with his energy and composure; he could stake a real claim for a consistent place on the U’s bench this year.
Star man Stan Mills will play on the right, whilst Aidomo Emakhu has been a force on the left combining well with Currie.
Tyler Goodrham has returned and been at the heart of many attacking moves in the no.10 role.
Outcast midfielder Siriki Dembele has shown glimpses of excitement as he has returned to the fold, with Ramsey speaking highly of how he has trained; he will provide decent competition for Emakhu and Goodrham.
With longer-term injuries to Jeon Jin-woo and Ruben Roosken, Aidan Elliott-Wheeler and Leo Snowden, who have both shown promise, also have a chance at becoming rotation options for Ramsey.
Striker
Mark Harris is the most senior option of the two, but has scored no goals in pre-season compared to Gatlin O’Donkor’s three.
Harris is more proven with 19 goals in his last League One campaign in 2023/24, but will have genuine competition if 21-year-old O’Donkor can maintain his goal threat heading into the competitive action.
The U’s remain under a temporary transfer embargo which sees them banned from registering any new players until they prove their compliance with the EFL’s Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations.
Oxford brought in one new player prior to the embargo being confirmed, with former Heart of Midlothian centre back joining on a free transfer.
He, however, has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which will keep the 30-year-old side-lined for a number of months.
Meanwhile, United’s league rivals are making sure to strengthen ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The headline transfer news in the third-tier this week has been the loan transfer of Tommy Watson to Leicester City from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
Watson joins on a season-long loan deal after just a year at Brighton having arrived from Sunderland last summer.
The 20-year-old scored the winning goal which saw the Black Cats beat Sheffield United in the 2024/25 Championship play-off final at Wembley despite already agreeing a £10 million move to the south coast.
He played just 10 times for the Seagulls and spent the second half of last season at Millwall.
Watson now drops down to the third tier in an attempt to help Leicester bounce back to the Championship after relegation alongside the U’s last term.
Elsewhere, MK Dons have continued to make waves in the window by bringing in former Middlesbrough winger Sam Silvera.
The newly-promoted Dons have brought in the winger on a free transfer after he was released by Boro at the end of last season.
It is another statement signing for Paul Warne’s side, with the Australian a first-choice name for the Teessiders last season until injury curtailed his season.
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The 25-year-old scored eight goals in 65 appearances for Boro.
Most recently, Oxford have seen Will Vaulks leave for League Two club Tranmere Rovers from whose academy he graduated.
The 32-year-old departs after two years at the club, playing 88 times.
Oxford’s first opponents of the season, Leyton Orient who they face in the Carabao Cup on Saturday, are in the midst of a fight to keep hold of star striker Dom Ballard.
The 21-year-old, who scored 23 goals and managed five assists in League One last year, is the target of Championship club Bristol City who are reportedly making a final push to sign the striker.
The Robins have offered £5 million for Ballard’s services, according to reporter Alan Nixon, with the O’s having held firm but are resigned to losing the prolific goal scorer.
Other moves in the division see Ollie Cooper join Notts County on loan from Swansea City and Stockport County sign Luca Ashby-Hammond after leaving Plymouth Argyle.
The 35-year-old was appointed into his first head coach role in June, taking over at United from Matt Bloomfield after retiring from professional football in April.
Ramsey has enjoyed a successful start to his tenure in OX4 so far, securing four wins from four pre-season fixtures, including a 2-0 victory over Premier League side Ipswich Town.
The former Gunners midfielder has also had to manage the squad amidst a temporary transfer ban which sees Oxford unable to register any new player until they prove compliance with the EFL’s Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations.
The ex-Wales international played under some world-renowned managers during his successful playing career in the likes of Wenger, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
“Arsene was a huge part of the success that I had as a player,” the Yellows head coach detailed after the pre-season win over Ipswich.
“And obviously, I took so much from him as well, from the manager side of things.
“But I’ve been very lucky and blessed to have played for some really good managers over the years, which I’ve taken little bits from as well.
“So, yes, I wouldn’t just say it’s all him, but definitely he’s formed part of that.”
Similarly to Wenger, Ramsey possesses a calm demeanour on the touchline, more often than not on the edge of his technical area with the occasional instruction directed at a player or the team as a whole.
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He is visibly calm and contemplative, something which he himself acknowledges.
“I think that’s me as a player, though. I’ve always been quite calm and comfortable in situations. So for me, that’s the way that I am.
“And I want my players to feel that and to feel like they can go out there and express themselves.
“So, yes, when they play like that [against Ipswich], it does make it a lot easier for me on the side lines.
“I think we need to be confident in what we’re trying to do for us to be able to really showcase exactly what we can do.
“It’s that confidence which is important without stepping over the line, but we need to embrace that.”
The U’s begin their campaign this Saturday with a Carabao Cup clash with League One rivals Leyton Orient.
Ramsey will be hoping his side can take the confidence and impressive performances from pre-season into the competitive campaign.
League action begins a week later, with the Yellows hosting newly-promoted MK Dons at the Kassam on the opening day.
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