Oxford united FC
Oxford United’s Emakhu finding form after Millwall transfer
“When I first came in, I wasn’t myself,” the winger admitted in his press conference before facing his former club on the final day of the season.
“I didn’t feel myself. Obviously, had a bit of a setback with illness and I was carrying a knock and stuff like that but the last couple of games I’ve felt like I’m getting back to my levels.”
Oxford suffered relegation to League One prior to their 4-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, leaving them with a free hit against Emakhu’s former club Millwall this Saturday.
After struggling to cement a starting place for The U’s since joining on deadline day in the winter transfer window, the former Lion has started to show real threat off the bench recently and was gifted a start in against The Owls last time out.
Head coach Matt Bloomfield stated previously that he has been waiting for the Emakhu that the club signed to show himself, and that person is beginning to be discovered.
“I was kind of waiting for him myself to be honest as well,” the Irishman said, referring to himself in the third person.
“When are you going to start playing like you know you can.
“He’s trusted me. He’s had numerous conversations, honest conversations.
“The last couple of games I like to think that I’m showing what I can bring to the team.
“I think in my career so far I’ve had to face quite a lot of challenges but I’m someone that’s really big in my faith in God so I think that keeps me going, that’s what drives me every day that gives me peace in the chaos when it seems like things are falling apart.
“I’ve got to control what I can and that’s by doing the extra bit on the pitches every day days off coming in and working hard.
“Because if I’m not ready then it’s only on me I’ve got no one else to blame, I can’t point fingers.
“I had to make sure that when I was out of the picture for a bit that I was controlling what I could in the background.”
Suffering the first relegation of his senior career, the prospect of going down does not seem to shake Emakhu’s motivation.
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“I’m not going to be naive, I knew coming here there was a risk that we’d possibly go down but I liked the project when it was presented to me, I liked what I’d seen and what I’d heard so it interested me at the time, it still does.
“It’s an ambitious club. I’ve got no doubt that we’re going to bounce back. None of us are really worried.”
In the final Championship match day of the season, Emakhu travels with The U’s to face his former club at The Den with the prospect of netting his first Yellows goal not completely out of his mind.
“I’ve played a lot of games for Millwall and I’ve seen what it’s like for opposition players so it’s not a nice place to go.
“I said I’d be a Millwall fan for life so…maybe not on Saturday but after that I’ll be rooting for them.
“It’ll be kind of bittersweet whether it’s my first goal for Oxford or it could potentially damage hopes of promotion for Millwall, but I think I’ll just be approaching the game like any other game.”
The U’s will play host to the Tractor Boys on Saturday, August 1, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00PM.
The fixture is the fourth pre-season friendly confirmed by the club and the first from a division higher than League One, where Oxford will compete next term.
United will face National League side Aldershot Town (Tuesday, July 21) and League Two club Barnet (Saturday, July 25) away from home before the welcoming of another fourth-tier outfit Crawley Town (Tuesday, July 28).
The U’s have also confirmed that tickets for the trip to Aldershot are now on sale.
Oxford played Ipswich twice in the Championship last season as Matt Bloomfield’s side suffered relegation whilst the Suffolk club were promoted to the Premier League, finishing second.
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Under former head coach Gary Rowett, the Yellows pulled off a shock 2-1 victory against Kieran McKenna’s men in OX4 in late November, Mark Harris and Przemyslaw Placheta scoring the goals.
They were defeated 2-1, however, in the second fixture, Will Lankshear scoring the only goal for the U’s at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys are currently on the hunt for a new manager after McKenna stepped down last week in order to take a break from football management.
The U’s reportedly met with the Colchester United winger as they look to secure his services ahead of the 2026/27 League One campaign.
Thames Valley rivals Reading pulled the plug on their interest earlier this month but it has since been revealed that Wednesday and Huddersfield are both also in the race for Lisbie’s signature alongside Oxford and Peterborough United.
The 22-year-old scored 11 goals and managed eight assists in 45 League Two appearances last season and has one year left on his contract at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Football League World has named the Owls and the Terriers as two competitors to the U’s for Lisbie, whose twin brother, Kyrell, plays for third tier rivals Peterborough.
Lisbie is also the son of former Premier League and EFL striker, Kevin.
Matt Bloomfield’s Oxford held interest in the winger in January but were blocked alongside Reading FC from signing the player but Colchester United’s chairman.
An estimated fee of between £500-750K is Colchester’s current asking price.
Lisbie played for the academies of Leyton Orient, Watford and Brentford during his youth before experiencing his first taste of senior football for Cray Valley Paper Mills.
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He moved to Colchester from Brentford B in early 2025 and spent a brief time on loan with Braintree Town at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Englishman won the Young Player of the Year award at Colchester’s end of season awards
After their relegation from the Championship, Oxford are looking to bolster and fill gaps in the squad after 15 players in total were released and had their loan spells end in OX4 last month.
The Yellows finished 22nd in the second tier, two places above rock-bottom side Wednesday with whom they are competing for Lisbie’s services.
After losing forward players like top scorer Will Lankshear, Myles Peart-Harris and Jamie Donley, more goals will be needed at the Kassam if they are to bounce straight back in League One.
Lisbie appeared on the right wing most frequently for Colchester last term, with the Essex club finishing 12th in the four tier.
Oxford only have supporters’ and players’ player of the year Stan Mills as a pure right midfielder and so the signing of the youngster would provide some healthy competition and quality backup for Mills.
The U’s are yet to make their first signing of the summer after the transfer window officially opened on Monday.
Sykes was one of three players – alongside Harry Cornick and Sam Morsy – to be released by the Robins last week after the appointment of new head coach Michael Skubala from newly-promoted Lincoln City.
The former Yellow left the club for the red side of Bristol in 2022 after making 136 appearances in OX4 during a three-year stint.
Sykes scored 11 times for Oxford and managed 21 assists, including the consolation goal in the U’s 2-1 League One play-off final defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in 2020.
He arrived at the Kassam in 2019 from semi-professional Northern Irish club Glenavon.
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The Republic of Ireland international went on to make 153 appearances for Bristol City, scoring 18 goals.
The 28-year-old has been linked with Championship sides Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic but his next destination is still yet to be confirmed.
Sykes enjoyed his best season for Oxford back in 2021/22, before his move to Ashton Gate, scoring eight goals and bagging five assists, proving the club right in renewing his contract the year prior.
Taking to social media, the Belfast-born man said upon leaving the Robins: “[There are] a lot of moments that will stay with me forever. A place that really felt like home. Thank you to all who played a part in making it feel that way. It’s been a pleasure! Syksey.”
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