adminBrentford loan ace becoming key figure for Oxford United
Oxford United are on a mission, and whilst a few names have contributed to the U’s upturn in form, Yunus Konak has become a standout in midfield.
After joining on loan from Brentford in January, Konak was thrown straight into the team for Matt Bloomfield’s first game in charge against Bristol City but lasted only 45 minutes before being withdrawn at the break.
“We knew that it was going to take a little bit of time for him to adapt from being at Brentford and being in and around the Premier League squad, but not playing loads and loads of football in the first half of the season,” the Yellows boss pondered after Konak’s standout shift against Watford last weekend.
“And it took maybe a little bit longer than I thought.
“I was hoping to get him straight in the team.”
The Turkish youth international dropped to the bench after his debut, not seeing action until coming on at half-time three games later in a 2-0 defeat to Birmingham City.
Two substitute cameos came in the next five matches, with Konak not making the squad for the away trip to Middlesbrough in February.
But, not only for the 20-year-old but for the whole club, the 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion was a big turning point.
Back into the team for his first start since his January debut, Konak contributed to the win that kicked off a three-game winning run and a streak of just one defeat in eight games that United carry into their next fixture against Derby County.
Since then, the young midfielder has held down his spot in a U’s side which has found consistency in both personnel and performances, keeping the experience of Will Vaulks and the tough-tackling, high potential of Northern Ireland international Jamie McDonnell out of the team.
Oxford secured an important 2-0 win last time out against the Hornets in which Konak received widespread adulation and the Player of the Match award in the stadium.
The Bees loanee, who hails from a city called Batman in Turkiye, demonstrated his growth since taking the step into men’s first-team football with the U’s, looking visibly more confident, stronger, and popping up all over the pitch to disrupt play.
“He trains really hard. He’s one of the first out every day to train properly,” Bloomfield continued.
“Since he’s come back into the team, he’s grabbed his opportunity and today was probably his best performance to date. We hope that he can keep putting in those type of performances in the next four games for us.
“I think Yunus is going to be a really big player in the future at some point and we’re really fortunate to have him with us for the period that we do.”
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