Injured Oxford defender Bennett out until 2025

Joe Bennett started all four of Oxford United's Championship games this season

Oxford United defender Joe Bennett will miss the rest of 2024 after sustaining an injury in Saturday's 3-1 victory against Preston North End.

On Friday the U's confirmed their 25-man squad for the season and shared the news of Bennett's exclusion.

Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood also missed out on the squad but BBC Radio Oxford understand that United could call him up in the event of an injury to another keeper, instead of looking for an emergency loan.

Bennett arrived at Kassam Stadium in November 2023 and this season started all four of the U's opening Championship games.

Oxford added 16 players to their squad this summer, looking to be in the strongest position possible to compete in the second tier of English football for the first time in 25 years.

“Overall I’m extremely pleased with the work that took place over the transfer window," Oxford boss Des Buckingham said.

"I feel as a club we are in a much stronger position than we were at the beginning of the summer.

“It's disappointing to lose Joe until the new year as he has been an outstanding player and person since arriving at the club in November."

Oxford are next in action after the international break when host Stoke City on Saturday, 14 September (12:30 BST).