LIAM Manning reckons Oxford United need another ‘two or three’ signings in the summer transfer window.

The U’s have already recruited half a dozen new faces this summer, with key positions across the pitch being filled.

Goalkeeper James Beadle is expected to rival Simon Eastwood for the number one jersey next season, while Jordan Thorniley and Fin Stevens provide further options in defence.

Josh McEachran offers experience and quality in midfield, with Ruben Rodrigues and Mark Harris bolstering a final third which toiled for large parts of the last campaign.

READ ALSO: Liam Manning discusses whether Oxford United need defensive midfielder

Asked about further signings, Manning responded: “Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, I’d say we’ve still got probably two or three to do, so we’re still working away on that.

“Obviously the emphasis for me at the moment is on what we’ve got in the building and making sure day-to-day, we want a strong pre-season where we cover physical, tactical, mental and the whole game ultimately as much as we can.

“We’ve got some terrific staff here that lead on that. Hoggy [Chris Hogg, assistant head coach] does a great job for us, and the guys in the coaching staff, and the sports science staff can really own that, and allow me to quickly jump out of certain bits if I have an important recruitment meeting.

“At the minute, it’s running well.”

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United returned from a week of warm weather training in Alicante on Saturday, and Manning was delighted with how things went in Spain.

The U’s head coach was particularly pleased with how staff members, players and the new signings gelled ahead of the club’s first pre-season friendly tomorrow.

United welcome a Southampton B side for a behind closed doors fixture.

On the trip to Spain, Manning said: “It was brilliant and the hotel was terrific, and used to having football teams there, which in terms of the flow, the meetings and the organisation which goes into a trip like that, is massive.

“We worked extremely hard. We went a little bit easier doing a double on Monday, but Tuesday and Wednesday were really tough days, tactically as well as physically.

“We smashed them quite hard Tuesday and Wednesday, dropped off it on Thursday and played an internal game on Friday.

“For staff as well as players, with new additions, it just fast tracks relationships because of the volume of time you spend together.

“It was a really positive week, and we’ve come back and need to build on last week.

“It’s about building and progressing, which is really important, and get ready for our first game on Saturday.”

After the Southampton B clash, the U’s then travel to Vanarama National League outfit Eastleigh on Tuesday evening, with the first pre-season friendly at the Kassam Stadium coming up against Sky Bet Championship side Swansea City on July 21.

Another behind closed doors friendly will be held at second tier Bristol City’s training ground the following day.

United then welcome another Championship side in the form of Queens Park Rangers on July 29, ahead of the League One curtain-raiser at Cambridge United on August 5.

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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.