RYAN Taylor is in the mood to hit the ground running and impress Oxford United supporters as the pre-season schedule kicks off at Didcot Town this afternoon.

The striker is one of three summer signings, along with goalkeeper Sam Slocombe and midfielder Liam Sercombe, set to make their debuts for the club.

Taylor, who scored ten goals for Portsmouth last season, admits there will be added excitement to pull the U’s shirt on for the first time.

“Definitely, I don’t think it matters who you are playing, I want to score goals every time I step out there,” he said.

“Hopefully I can get off to a good start. I’m not sure how long we’ll all be playing, but I’m looking forward to it and will try to get on that scoresheet.

“I prefer a bit of pressure, so I hope there are a few fans there.

“I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully I can show them what I can do.”

The short trip to the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium is United’s only pre-season game in Oxfordshire and is a welcome boost the players a fortnight after returning from their summer break.

It included a two-day camp at RAF Benson, which was very challenging, according to Taylor.

He said: “We all came back from that thinking ‘it can’t get much better than that'.

“It was a good two days, I’m one of the new boys so we all got to know each other.

“Hopefully that will stand us in good stead come the start of the season.”

The visitors, who beat the Southern League outfit 1-0 last July, will be bringing a full-strength side.

Barring any last-minute problems, United have a clean bill of health.

The only absentee is Max Crocombe, who is away on international duty with New Zealand at the Pacific Games.

U’s boss Michael Appleton said: “It doesn’t matter how hard you train or how much you’re enjoying it, everyone wants a game at the end of it.

“We’ll try to give everyone as much of a game as possible.

“It will be the only time this will happen in pre-season, with two different teams getting 45 minutes each.”

Didcot will be without last season's strike trio of John Mills, Pablo Haysham and Ryan Brooks, but new signings Conor McDonagh, Marvin Martin and Leigh Bedwell should feature.