Oxford United kick off their new Championship campaign on Saturday with the visit of Norwich to Grenoble Road.

The U’s have had a busy summer with 11 new signings, plus important contract extensions for two key players.

Pre-season has been a mixed bag in terms of results but there was some important game time for the squad ahead of their first match in the second tier for 25 years after winning promotion from League One with a Wembley win over Bolton. 

Norwich, who finished sixth last season but lost to Leeds in the playoffs, have had a change of manager but their recruitment has been slow with just two new arrivals in Jose Cordoba and Ben Chrisene. They’ve also lost influential midfielder Gabriel Sara, who joined Galatasaray.

New goalkeeper Matt Ingram looks set for a start on the bench with Jamie Cumming impressing since signing a permanent deal following an impressive loan spell last season.

Elsewhere, new signings Peter Kioso and Will Vaulks are almost guaranteed a start, with the likes of Jack Currie, Idris El Mizouni, Louie Sibley and Matt Phillips, among others, available from the bench. Przemyslaw Placheta could feature against his former club.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides since 1999, with the Canaries winning 4-2 on their last visit to Oxfordshire.

Predicted line-up: Jamie Cumming, Joe Bennett, Ciaron Brown, Elliott Moore, Peter Kioso, Will Vaulks, Cameron Brannagan, Ruben Rodrigues, Tyler Goodrham, Przemyslaw Placheta, Mark Harris.

Prediction: Oxford United 2-2 Norwich City