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.

Oxford United winger Aidomo Emakhu (Image: Jason Dawson)

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.

(Image: ©Jason Dawson)

“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.

Oxford United winger Aidomo Emakhu shields the ball (Image: Jason Dawson)

“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.”

Oxford United winger Aidomo Emakhu (Image: Jason Dawson)

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.”