IDRIS El Mizouni believes the battle for a midfield spot at Oxford United will help him as he looks to make an impression before the start of the season.

The 23-year-old joined the U’s from Ipswich Town for a reported £400,000 earlier this month, becoming the third midfielder to sign for United this summer.

Alongside Louie Sibley and Will Vaulks, El Mizouni is set to compete with the likes of Cameron Brannagan, Tyler Goodrham, Josh McEachran, Marcus McGuane and Ruben Rodrigues for a spot in the U’s midfield.

READ ALSO: Oxford United fans can subscribe for £4 for four months during flash sale

United won promotion under Des Buckingham last season playing with a three-man midfield, which saw one player in the number six role and two advanced midfielders higher up the pitch.

If that system is to continue next season, that would leave the above eight players competing for three spaces in the middle of the park.

El Mizouni said: “Wherever you go, you’re going to have competition, especially in the Championship.

“All the centre mids are very good players. It’s a strong part of our squad, and I can learn from each of them because they’re in a different part of their career.

“We have some experienced ones, some younger ones, and some that have played in the Championship before.

“If I can learn from each of them, that would be great.”

He added: “I can definitely play the holding role, but I think my best position would be the number eight.

“I’m very energetic, I like to be up and down, and I like to get on the ball and play, and I like to cross the ball as well.”

El Mizouni graduated through the Ipswich academy and made his debut in March 2019. He then had two spells at Cambridge United on loan, plus a temporary switch to Grimsby Town, before spending the last two seasons on loan with Leyton Orient.

The move to the U’s therefore represents a first full-time move away from Portman Road since arriving as a teenager.

“It’s a massive move and the first time I’ve got a permanent move after signing for Ipswich. It’s a big move for me,” said El Mizouni.

“The aim is to establish myself as a Championship player. I made four appearances when they went down from the Championship, but that wasn’t enough.

“I just need to put my head down and hopefully have a good season with the club, and kick on from there really.

“I spoke to Kyle Edwards, and he told me good things. That made it a bit clearer for me, but I’m here because I made the decision.

“It’s good to see Kyle and Greg [Leigh] because I had a good time with them at Ipswich. The rest are fresh new faces.”