The U’s kick off their season with a trip to League One rivals Orient in the cup, a first competitive fixture for new head coach Ramsey after a pre-season with four wins out of four.

The former Arsenal midfielder was appointed as Matt Bloomfield’s successor in June, with the club being hit with a temporary transfer embargo shortly after.

Three players have left the club since the ban – Ole Romeny, Nik Prelec and Will Vaulks – with rumours also recently surfacing regarding winger and last season’s player of the year Mills.

The 22-year-old scored twice in three games during pre-season including a second goal against Premier League side Ipswich Town.

“Stan has missed a couple of days of training, so he’ll be seeing how he gets through the next today and seeing what he can do,” Ramsey confirmed.

Oxford United winger Stan Mills (Image: Jason Dawson)

“But same with Brian [De Keersmaecker] as well, just seeing how today looks and seeing if they come through OK to be available for tomorrow.

“The rest of the squad are all trained well this week and they’re raring to go as well.”

Belgian midfielder De Keersmaecker did not feature during pre-season.

With the Yellows currently unable to replace any departing players, the club has a fight to keep the squad together during the last month of the transfer window.

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Oxford United head coach Aaron Ramsey (Image: PA)

“They are always are tricky, aren’t they?” Ramsey answered when questioned whether it would be a difficult rest of the window.

“With things going on in the background and stuff like that, but that’s all part and parcel of the job and me as a manager to be able to manage them situations.

“But for me, the players, they’ve been fully committed and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

“I’m really excited now for them to show what they can do this season.”

Oxford United midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker (Image: Jason Dawson)

The 35-year-old begins his first season as a head coach with a trip to East London in the cup after retiring from professional football in April.

“It’s different, obviously being on the side line, but I can’t stress enough that I am really excited for this.

“I’m ready for this opportunity and I hope that’s evident to see now.

“The team and the squad have been fantastic throughout pre-season and now it’s just about adding layers to that and for that to come to life now in these games.

“It’s a chance to win a trophy at the end of the day, so for us it’s an important competition and we want to be testing ourselves against the teams and seeing how far we can progress.”

The former Oxford centre forward was a free agent after leaving the club last season.

Bradshaw, 34, has scored 115 goals in 473 career league appearances.

Last season, he was loaned to Barnsley in League One, where he scored three goals, including two against his new club.

He had no goals but one assist from his 18 games at Oxford.

The former Wales international is the Millers’ ninth summer signing and could debut in Saturday’s Carabao Cup first-round tie against West Bromwich Albion.

His contract includes an option for an additional year, though it’s unclear whether this is player or club option.

He becomes the ninth new player at the club for this season.

Rotherham were relegated to League Two last season.

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.

Simon Eastwood has signed a new contract with Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

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.

Oxford United winger Stan Mills (Image: Jason Dawson)

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.

Oxford United winger Aidomo Emakhu (Image: Jason Dawson)

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.