There really isn't much to talk about other than the match against Oxford tonight and Fabian Delph and you never know, he could be playing later, if everything gets done and dusted at Bodymoor in time.

Now, he might not be playing, but if the rumoured fee of £6mn, with additional payments that could take it to £8mn, is true, then you've got to fancy that Martin O'Neill sees him in a role and that he'll get a run out either tonight or against Fiorentina on Saturday. You don't spend that type of money on someone to play for the reserves.

This is only me speculating and we have only had a fee agreed, it doesn't actually mean that it will get done today although you have to fancy O'Neill is going to want to get it sorted as quickly as possible.

But, to the match. Oxford can pick their strongest team and I wouldn't be surprised if we travelled down with a few of the kids and the three that didn't travel to Spain for the Peace Cup, namely Milner, Gardner and Gabby.

They've had a good rest now and I'm sure they will be very keen to get 90 minutes in, either today or Saturday, and I'm sure Milner will want to show Martin O'Neill that he should still be the first choice right sided midfielder, after some scintillating performances from Marc Albrighton recently.

The performances from Albrighton do raise a question on who should play on the right. When James Milner was 19 he was playing regularly in the Premier League so what is to say that Albrighton isn't ready. What is to say that Albrighton isn't better than Milner when he was 19?

Either way, we've seen something very exciting recently so if he doesn't get a run out straight away, we'll know there is something exciting to come but it will be interesting.

So, tonight is only a friendly and on the Oxford United website they're saying that an Aston Villa XI are coming, so don't expect too many first team regulars to play, but it's still nice and with less than two weeks until the season starts, it's just adding to the excitement. Roll on Wigan and three points.

Squad

Elliot Parish, Chris Herd, Daniel Devine, Shane Lowry, Tomos Roberts, Daniel Bradley, Dominik Hofbauer, Gary Gardner, Andras Stieber, James Collins, Adam McGurk. Substitutes: Richard Blythe, Ben Siegrist, Jason Lampkin, Jack Dyer, Kofi Poyser, Samir Carruthers, Durell Berry, William Grocott, Ryan Simmonds.