JOSH McEachran sees no reason why Oxford United cannot aim for promotion this season.

The 30-year-old midfielder will officially join his hometown side on Saturday, upon the expiration of his contract with MK Dons.

McEachran grew up in Kirtlington and played for Kidlington side Garden City, while he watched the likes of club legend Joey Beauchamp play at the Manor Ground.

He moved to Surrey aged 15 when he joined the set-up at Chelsea, with permanent spells at Brentford, Birmingham City and the Dons to follow.

READ ALSO: Liam Manning hopeful Oxford United can sign ‘one or two’ before trip to Spain

McEachran is now finally set to represent the city he was born in though, and feels United can challenge at the top end of Sky Bet League One after a tricky campaign battling relegation last time out.

He said: “Last season with the squad that was here, they didn’t come anyway near where they should’ve done.

“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves but if we don’t say promotion, then what’s the point in being in the league really?

“Everyone wants to get promoted at the end of the day, so that will be on everyone’s mind.

“We’ve just got to start thinking about the first game of the season and take it game by game.

“Being a local lad, there’s probably a little added pressure and I’m looking forward to it.”

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In addition to pulling on the yellow shirt, a further attraction to United for McEachran was the chance to work with head coach Liam Manning again.

The pair were together at MK Dons, when Manning led the club to third in League One during the 2021/22 campaign.

McEachran then played 43 games for the club in all competitions as they were relegated to League Two last season.

He said: “I’m really excited for the new season – it’s my hometown and I’m really looking forward to it.

“All my family are still very local and I can’t wait to get started.

“Being a local lad, I always wanted to play for Oxford one day and here I am.

“The manager here is getting a very good squad together so they’re very exciting times at Oxford United right now and I’m really glad to be a part of that.

“I really enjoyed my time when he first came in at MK, we had an unbelievable season just missing out on automatic promotion by one point.

“We’ve stayed in contact and as soon as there was a little bit of interest, it was a no-brainer for me to come back and work with him.”

United’s players returned for pre-season on Monday and being at the club on day one at the training ground was another important factor for McEachran.

He said: “In the later stages, when you start to get the games, it’s more enjoyable.

“The first couple of weeks aren’t so enjoyable but I’m used to it now.

“All the lads have come back in really good shape so I’m looking forward to getting out to Spain, and then the games will start after that.

“I said to the gaffer when I first spoke to him, that I want to be somewhere on the first day of pre-season and not a week before the season.

“I need a good pre-season under my belt and I think that’s massive for every player, it sets you up for the season so it was huge to be here on the first day.”

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About the author

To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/

Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.

Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.

His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.