Oxford United announced today that they are giving trials to four players, to assess whether they are worth offering contracts to. These players are in addition to any alleged transfer targets of manager Darren Patterson. The four have all been involved in training sessions, which started on Monday, and it is possible that at least some of them will take part in some of the pre-season games, which start on 8 August at Oxford City.

The hopeful quartet comprises Rob Davies, a midfielder who has been in Spain recently, and before that played on loan at Kidderminster Harriers from West Bromwich Albion, and was also at Wrexham. Liam Kelly can apparently play at right back or in midfield, but is carrying the stigma of having come through the ranks of Franchise FC. Defender Rhys Meynell was originally with Barnsley before playing in the SPL with the doomed Gretna. Finally, Reuben Reid is a forward who started at Plymouth, had loan spells at Kidderminster, Torquay United, and Wycombe Wanderers, and was most recently at Brentford.

United have had a mixed record with triallists. Rob Duffy came on trial two seasons ago, and finished his first season as leading scorer before becoming crap and falling out of favour. Mo Lamine was on trial at the same time, and even played against Manchester United in the pre-season friendly, but he was unable to get a work permit and disappeared from view. Other players who arrived on trial include Alex Jeannin and Joel Ledgister from last season (not the best examples, admittedly), and Rob Hughes and Jude Stirling from the season before.