Will Lankshear has credited his loan spell at Oxford United last season for his prolific start to life at Middlesbrough. The Tottenham striker, now on loan at Boro, has scored six goals in five games, including four in the Championship, and directly linked his development to his time with the U's. This insight came in a Sky Sports report on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, as the transfer window closed and a full midweek fixture list kicked off.
Oxford United themselves are preparing for a trip to face Leicester City this Saturday, sitting eighth in the League One table with four points from two games. Their record shows one win, one draw, and a positive goal difference of four scored to three conceded. They are currently three points behind the early leaders, Blackpool.
How did Lankshear's Oxford loan help him?
The 21-year-old forward spent the 2025/26 season on loan at the Kassam Stadium from Tottenham. That experience in League One, where he made 46 appearances across all competitions, provided the competitive minutes he needed to transition to senior football. Lankshear began his current scoring run with a Carabao Cup winner against Wrexham and has since found the net consistently in the league. He is quick to play down comparisons with Harry Kane, who also began his career on a Championship loan from Spurs, just as Lankshear did at Oxford last season.
"Obviously, as a striker, you want to get off zero pretty early, so I'm thankful I've managed to do that," Lankshear told Sky Sports. His focus remains on contributing to team success, a mentality honed during his loan. "I've been brought in to win games and, ultimately, I love winning," he added.
What is Oxford United's current league position?
Des Buckingham's side has made a solid start to the new campaign. After two matches, they have four points and sit in eighth place. You can track their progress on our standings page. Their next challenge is a significant one, an away fixture against Leicester City, who are currently 21st in the table, on 5 September. This forms part of a busy period you can view on our fixtures schedule.
What other transfer news affected League One?
While Oxford were not directly involved in major deadline day moves, the report highlighted activity across the EFL. Charlton agreed to sign Oliver Skipp on a season-long loan from Leicester City. Elsewhere, Everton defender Eli Campbell joined MK Dons on loan for the rest of the season, and Swindon confirmed striker Aaron Drinan had signed a new contract until 2030 after a 28-goal season. The first midweek round of the season featured 27 games live on Sky, including Huddersfield versus Oxford in League One.
Where does Lankshear fit in the wider picture?
Lankshear's success story underscores the value of the loan system for player development. His time at Oxford United provided the platform for his current form at a higher level. For Oxford, the focus now shifts to maintaining their positive start. The squad, which you can review on our squad page, will look to build on their early points haul against a Leicester side seeking its first win. The match at the King Power Stadium kicks off on Saturday, 5 September 2026.
