JOSH IS BY NO MEANS RUFFLED BY TALK

DESPITE the large number of transfers every January, Oxford United’s Josh Ruffels believes it’s not a common topic in most dressing rooms.

The 24-year-old has already seen midfielders Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, 19, Cameron Brannagan, 21, and defender Rob Dickie, 21, come into the club this month, while attacking midfielder Jack Payne, 23, had his loan from Huddersfield cut short before joining Blackburn.

But, despite all the ins and outs, Ruffels says it’s just business as usual in the changing room.

“I’ve seen so many players come and go,” said the midfielder.

“You’ve just got to make sure players come in to replace them and we keep the squad strong.

“I didn’t know about Jack (Payne) on Monday. He came in the gym to say his goodbyes and I thought: ‘What’s going on here?’

“Fair play to him. I hope he does well because he was great for us.

“It’s part of the process. It just happens in a day or two. Unless it’s a certainty, someone is coming or going. Then, it’s not really talked about.

“Rumours are rumours, so unless it comes from their mouth, you don’t really listen to it.”

U’s goalkeeper Simon Eastwood has attracted transfer interest this season, as has midfielder Ryan Ledson, with Oxford reportedly rejecting a £1m bid for the 20-year-old.

Ruffels has also attracted interest this window, rumoured to be from Millwall, but the former Coventry man insists he’s staying where he is.

“There’s nothing in that, as far as I’m concerned,” he added. “It’s nice to hear sometimes because I’ve never really had that.

“I’ve just got to keep my head down and try to play well. As long as I perform and I’m enjoying it, then it comes, I guess.

“That’s just football. I don’t take much notice.”