Oxford United’s Aaron Ramsey pleased with Stan Mills amid Preston deal

The Yellows boss revealed he is ‘pleased’ with Mills at the end of a week’s training after the winger requested not to play in the team’s opening League One fixture last week.

Ramsey announced last week that the U’s had agreed a deal with Championship side Preston North End for the 22-year-old to move to Lancashire in January, with Mills then missing from the Oxford squad the day after.

Also absent from the 2-2 draw with MK Dons was De Keersmaecker, the midfielder still having not appeared for United since January due to a shoulder injury.

The Belgian did not play at all during pre-season with the U’s boss citing illness as the main reason for his absence this summer.

Former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey provided an update on both players’ situations ahead of the his side’s first League One away trip of the season to Stevenage.

“[Mills] has trained well this week,” the 35-year-old head coach disclosed.

“He’s trained with the group. He’s available.

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“Obviously, he’s got today’s training to get through first, but he’s done really well.

“For him to get his head down this week and to train the way he has done has been really pleasing.

“He’ll be no different to the rest of the squad up for selection.”

Ramsey continued, this time referencing De Keersmaecker: “There’s no difference there.

“Brian has been training and knows the situation.

Oxford United midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker has not played since January (Image: Jason Dawson)

“Again, he hasn’t played any minutes this pre-season, so he’s got a lot of catching up to do.”

One further absentee from the Yellows’ first couple of competitive fixtures – Oxford began the season with a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Leyton Orient – was left back Greg Leigh.

“Greg trained earlier on this week.

“Greg still may be a little doubt there for the weekend, but we’ll see how that pans out today as well after the session.”