After a 25-year absence from the second tier of English football, Oxford United are back in the EFL Championship, after winning the EFL League One play-offs, and will be looking to start their survival campaign off strongly, as the underdogs take on last season’s Championship play-off semi-finalists Norwich City at the Kassam Stadium.
New signings Peter Kioso and former Canary Przemyslaw Placheta, alongside former Derby County midfielder Louie Sibley, are just a handful of the 10 permanent signings made by the U’s ahead of the new season.
But despite the heavy recruitment, Des Buckingham‘s side remain the bookies favourite for relegation, leaving bitter frustration for their loyal fanbase.
Their opposition, Norwich City, come into this match off the back of a dismal end to their play-off campaign, after losing 4-0 to former head coach Daniel Farke‘s Leeds United, one of the heaviest single defeats in play-off history.
There is a new look in the dugout at NR1, with former FC Nordsjælland manager Johannes Hoff Thorup being appointed head coach of the Canaries, ahead of their third consecutive season in the Championship. Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara has also left the club to join Turkish giants Galatasaray, leaving a big gap to fill.
Oxford
Des Buckingham may opt to deploy the same side that put up a strong fight against Italian side Palermo in pre-season, despite losing the match 2-0, with Sibley being touted for a start as a creative outlet in midfield.
Loan signing Malcolm Ebiowei could also see a first start for the U’s on the flank, alongside former West Bromwich Albion winger Matt Phillips.
Norwich
Experienced striker Ashley Barnes is set to miss the match with a hamstring injury suffered against Leeds in the first playoff leg last season, and new summer signing Jose Cordoba also looks set to miss the game with an injury in training, but Hoff Thorup has said there is a chance for Cordoba to make the match.
Despite heavy transfer speculation, Jonathan Rowe and Josh Sargent look set to feature, alongside Irish striker Adam Idah, who spent the second half of last season on loan to Scottish side Celtic.
Oxford
Cumming; Brown, Vaulkes, Moore, Placheta; Brannagan, Harris, Bennett; Goodrham, Rodrigues, Kioso.
Norwich
Gunn; Stacey, Chrisene, Duffy, Doyle; McLean, Gibbs, Nunez; Rowe, Sainz, Sargent.
Oxford – Cameron Brannagan
A loyal servant for the club, the midfielder has been a regular face at the Kassam Stadium since the 2017/18 season, registering 13 goals and 10 assists across 51 matches last campaign, including a goal and assist in the play-offs.
Versatility is a huge part of Brannagan’s game, able to be deployed in the number eight role and in the number 10, he is more than capable of playing as a dominant attacking threat and creative outlet, as well as a holding midfielder, controlling the tempo from the back.
Brannagan received an average FotMob rating of 7.6, and represented in the top 10% of League One players for chances created, shot attempts and goals. Discipline is not one of the midfielders strongest areas, recording nine yellow cards across last campaign, but not recording a single red.
Norwich – Jonathan Rowe
In his breakthrough season for the Canaries, Rowe scored 13 goals and assisted two in 34 appearances, and became the first Norwich player to score five goals in five consecutive games since the Second World War.
Rowe ranked in the top 5% of Championship players last season in terms of goals, behind player of the season winner Crysencio Summerville. Achieving an average FotMob rating of 7.0, the attacking winger has seen interest from Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur this transfer window.
Rowe missed two months of the season with a hamstring injury, between February 2024 and April 2024, and struggled to regain that form for the rest of last campaign. But after a strong showing in pre-season, scoring three goals, the England U21 international should be a constant thorn in the side of Oxford United.
Where is the game being played?
The match will be played at the Kassam Stadium – home of Oxford United since 2001.
What time is kick-off?
The match kicks off at 12:30 BST on Saturday, August 10.
How can I watch?
The match will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage beginning at 11:30 BST, with match highlights available via the club outlets within 24 hours of the full-time whistle.