Oxford United return to life in the Championship with a home encounter against Norwich City at the Kassam Stadium.
While the home side will have second-tier survival on their mind, the visitors will be hoping to mount a promotion push under their new head coach.
Match preview
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Norwich have made a habit of appointing foreign coaches in recent years so it should have perhaps come as no surprise when Johannes Hoff Thorup was made the club's new manager.
The 35-year-old put together a respectable record during his time at Nordsjaelland, recording 34 wins from his 67 matches in charge and earning a second-placed finish in the Danish Superliga in 2022-23.
Time is being taken to make new additions with this week's signing of Manchester City defender Callum Doyle just the third senior piece of business of the summer.
Nevertheless, the backline looks suitably strengthened with Jose Cordoba and Ben Chrisene also arriving at Carrow Road, necessary acquisitions given that Norwich conceded 64 goals in the Championship last season.
Their only victory in pre-season came against Northampton Town on July 13, the most recent of three defeats coming at the hands of Bundesliga newcomers St Pauli last weekend.
Meanwhile, Oxford are back in the second tier of English football after a 26-year absence, naturally making them the favourites to finish bottom of the division.
Des Buckingham will see this as an opportunity, however, after his side impressively overcame Bolton Wanderers in the League One playoff final in May.
An array of notable additions have been made, including Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Will Vaulks and West Bromwich winger Matt Phillips.
Buckingham ensured that his squad were thoroughly tested during pre-season, recording a 2-0 win over Premier League outfit Southampton before losing by the same scoreline to Palermo.
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Team News
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Buckingham must decide whether to stick with the team that went down to Palermo or tinker with his Oxford starting lineup.
Louie Sibley is an option in a creative role, while new arrival Malcolm Ebiowei could be used on one of the flanks.
With Doyle having played a part for Man City in pre-season, he may be considered for an immediate debut in the Norwich defence.
Despite speculation regarding his future, Jonathan Rowe is in line to feature in the final third, with Josh Sargent likely to get the nod down the middle of the attack.
Shane Duffy is an option to come into the backline, depending on where Jacob Sorensen is deployed.
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Kioso, Moore, Brown, Bennett; Vaulks, Brannagan, Rodrigues; Goodrham, Harris, Placheta
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Stacey, Hanley, Sorensen, Chrisene; McLean, Gibbs, Nunez; Sainz, Sargent, Rowe
We say: Oxford United 1-2 Norwich City
With new-division enthusiasm running through their veins, we expect a spirited performance from Oxford. Nevertheless, they may require more than that to overcome a Norwich side who could be in the running for promotion as the campaign progresses.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
