Wrexham to conclude pre-season with Dutch trip
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BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Oxford may be undercooked against Portsmouth'
When Oxford United started their first season back in the Championship, nine of their starting XI had played for them in the League One play-off final. There was some trepidation as the U's took on a division they'd been out of for a quarter of a century. They may have surprised even themselves by how they eased to safety under Gary Rowett. When they kick off the new campaign this weekend, there's every chance at least eight of the starters will have proved themselves in the Championship with Oxford last season. Those who didn't – summer signings Brodie Spencer and Brian De Keersmaecker and maybe defender Jack Currie, who is back from a stellar loan at Leyton Orient, all look ready to go at this level. They have a good there is a feeling that United may be a little undercooked going into the opener against Portsmouth. A pre-season tour to Indonesia allowed them to make friends and gain influence there, but ate into the available time for the sort of intense fitness work that a Rowett summer usually entails. There have also been disruptive injuries which have impacted squad depth at a time when it should be at its arrived back in the county's consciousness last summer – they are THE story, although there is as much talk about the pending decision about a new stadium as there is about the new way for Oxford to succeed over the next nine months will be to somehow combine their underdog mentality of last year with a swagger that comes from knowing the Championship ropes. Can you have both? We are about to find out.A year ago Oxford were at the bottom of most people's predicted final table, but finished 17th. The Championship does look more competitive this year, but the average prediction I have seen this time around places the U's just above the relegation zone. Funnily enough, Oxford fans might be more comfortable if they had again been completely written off!
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
QPR's Chair 'obsessed' with Premier League aim
QPR playmaker Ilias Chair admits he is "obsessed" with reaching the Premier Morocco international, 27, has been with the club since 2017 and was a standout performer in the Championship before enduring an injury-plagued 2024-25 fully fit again, Chair has high hopes for the west London club under recently-appointed head coach Julien Stephan."I'm a bit obsessed with getting to the Premier League at this point," Chair said."Hopefully that can be with QPR. I've really got a good feeling that I can do that with QPR. This project is a very promising project."On a personal level, yes, the Premier League is 100% a dream of mine and I tend to never let go of my dreams, so we'll see what happens." Chair is also keen to re-establish himself for was in their 2022 World Cup squad, although he only featured in a third-place play-off against has made just one international appearance since then - and last season's injury woes scuppered his hopes of a return to the he has remained in contact with Morocco boss Walid Regragui and hopes to earn a recall."I definitely want to go back in there," Chair added."It only improves my game - every time I go there, when I come back I feel like I'm a better player because of the players around me. Obviously you learn from them."So I definitely want to get back into that squad. I've had conversations with the manager of Morocco. We're keeping in contact and hopefully I can be back in there."It's just about getting back on the pitch, being healthy and putting some good performances together - some good team performances, because it's all about the team." Stephan will be the eighth manager Chair has played under at Frenchman has an impressive CV, having led his hometown club Rennes to a French Cup triumph in 2019 - their first trophy for 48 have not sustained a promotion challenge since being relegated from the top flight 10 years are not among the favourites to go up this time around, but will be hoping Stephan can help them beat the odds."He's been great. He has different ideas and I'm listening a lot to him," Chair said."He has this sort of charisma. He has an aura about him, which maybe I haven't experienced with other managers - other managers have had other qualities."He definitely has something special about him, which is very good for us as players."I wish I'd known him longer. I spoke to a couple of players that have played under him and they've been positive about him, and so far so good with us."QPR begin their Championship campaign with a home match against Preston on Saturday.
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Brittain looking to offer 'something different'
Middlesbrough defender Callum Brittain hopes he can bring "something different" to his new 27-year-old arrived this week on a four-year deal from fellow Championship side Blackburn Rovers. "He [Rob Edwards] just loves my energy, up and down on that right hand side," Brittain told BBC Radio Tees. "I think it's a bit different to what the rest of the lads have been playing as I am very direct on the ball, I like to cross the ball and get it in the box."Obviously there is the defensive side as well, trying to be as aggressive as I can, I like to be front footed, and love one-to-one defending as well."Looking ahead to what the season has in store, Brittain added: "We have to create an atmosphere inside the changing room. We all have to pull in the same direction and work for each other. "There is lots of quality in this dressing room and I think if we play with freedom and on the front foot, we can create a lot of chances this season."
