Jamie Cumming issues Oxford United ‘us against the world’ plea

Oxford have won four of their first seven League One fixtures, sitting eighth in the table despite being hit with a temporary transfer embargo in the summer.

Cumming made only his third appearance in the league this season at the weekend in a 2-1 win at Notts County after coming off injured in the second game of the campaign with a groin injury.

Until the international break, veteran shot-stopper Simon Eastwood stepped in and kept two clean sheets until his colleague regained his place for the Jersey Mike’s Trophy clash with Exeter City.

“I think so, yes,” Cumming replied when asked whether he knew he would eventually be handed a starting spot again.

“I think I’ve done enough over the last couple of seasons.

Oxford United goalkeeper Jamie Cumming (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

“I had a couple of conversations with the manager and I just said to him, and we had an honest conversation, whenever you feel that it’s right to put me back in, do that.

“Obviously, the team’s winning games and things are going really well.

“I’m not expecting to come straight back in the team, but he’s chosen now as the time to put me back in and obviously I’m happy to come in and try and make an impact.”

After a turbulent summer at the club, the former Chelsea man is enjoying the current feeling amongst the players with a good start to the season.

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“I think maybe in a way it’s been good for the club,” the 27-year-old pondered.

“And you’ve seen a couple of young players who maybe we didn’t expect to have this sort of impact, have a massive impact. And it has definitely brought everyone together.

“I think having that against us against the world mentality can sometimes help a squad. And I think for us, it’s just made us want to prove a point that the players we have here are more than good enough.”

Under Ramsey, Oxford are playing a very different brand of football to how they did when fighting survival in the Championship, aiming to play out from the back with incisive passes on the floor.

Oxford United’s Jamie Cumming (Image: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire)

And, for Cumming, this is something he is pleased about: “Perhaps it’s easier to do those sorts of things in League One than in the Championship.

“I think this year we definitely have a lot more solutions and we feel like we know what we’re doing and are in control a bit more.

“I prefer having the ball at my feet because I feel like it’s actually a strength of my game, trying to recognise the press and then play out.

“There were a couple of times at the weekend where I recognised, if they were pressing hard, to clip over or to play through.”