Oxford United target Newcastle’s Danish hot shot

Could Oxford United’s search for a striker be over? Oxford have been linked with Newcastle United’s highly rated Danish striker Elias Sorensen.

It is well known that the Yellows are in desperate need for a forward after the club started without a conventional striker on the pitch in the 2-2 draw at Fleetwood last Saturday.

Oxford looked completely lost during a first-half display where they created almost nothing and went in at the break trailing 2-0. The introduction of Jamie Mackie, the club’s only fit striker, for the second half saw Karl Robinson’s men rescue a point thanks to a goal and assist from the substitute.

Rumours have been circling about potential transfer targets but Oxford have been quicker to allow players to leave than sign them during the window.

Charlie Raglan and Tony McMahon have been shipped out on loan to Cheltenham and Scunthorpe respectively while the only additions have been Mark Sykes from Glenavon and Jordan Graham returning for another loan spell from Wolves. Neither are strikers and the need is getting greater with some difficult fixtures on the horizon.

United, therefore, would be delighted to get the go ahead from Newcastle to bring Elias Sorensen to the Kassam Stadium but they face stiff competition.

Blackpool, Hartlepool and Gateshead are all thought to be interested and club coach Ben Dawson revealed that he is not yet sure which destination would be best for the Dane.

“We still don’t know what will be the best for him,” Dawson told the Chronicle

“We are still in those discussions.

“We haven’t had anything concrete come through.

“At the moment we have a list of who is interested in who but nothing has been actioned off the back of it at the moment.”

“There’s some who we would like to go out and get some experience.

“But it has to be the right place for them.

“We won’t just send people out for the sake of it.

“Some players need to stay as they have bits and pieces they need to learn before they go out.”

Sorensen picked up an ankle injury in his last game against Sunderland but has made a full recovery and is now on international duty with the Danish U21 side in Mexico.

Dawson added: “Elias came in the next day and had some treatment and stuff.

“He managed to get a day at home before they flew out to Mexico with the Danish Under-21s.

“It’s a 10 day trip playing Mexico in Mexico City.”

Who is Elias Sorensen?

Sorensen joined the Magpies from HB Koge and has played in the United U23 side, making a big impact.

He has bagged 19 goals this season and is already making a name for himself as one for the future.

The striker had never lived away from home before joining Newcastle but now speaks English fluently and has such a strong Geordie accent he could be mistaken for a local.

He has enjoyed his time in England although admitted it was hard to settle at first.

He told the Chronicle: “Moving over to Newcastle from Denmark as a 16-year-old was very tough for me.

“I missed my family, two sisters and friends. It was tough at first but as the years go by you get used to it.

“The family come to visit me and I go back when I can so I am used to it.

“I have settled in.”

He has played so well this season that there have been suggestions he should get a chance in the first team yet the player has taken a humble approach to this attitude.

“I am developing massively.

“I am trying to hold the ball up more.

“I am quite a big lad so I am looking to improve.

“When I first came here I struggled to get into the Under-18 team but now I am getting a regular game for the Under-23s.”

D3D4’s verdict

If the player was given a chance to play in the league then Oxford would be the ideal destination. Often players come out on loan and don’t get game time.

Blackpool have been heavily linked to the player but they already have a striker force in Chris Long, who scored the winner at Portsmouth on Saturday, and Armand Ganduillet that would be hard to dislodge.

The lack of competition for places at Oxford may not be ideal for the club but for a player like Sorensen it would be a huge bonus as he would likely get plenty of minutes. Karl Robinson has a good reputation at developing young talent which could also be a massive benefit to the 19-year-old.