A FAMILIAR face helped pave the way for Connal Trueman’s emergency loan to Oxford United.

The goalkeeper joined from Birmingham City on Tuesday and went straight into the side for that evening’s 3-1 win over Fleetwood Town.

Trueman’s arrival ended United’s three-day hunt for a stopper, after they postponed the weekend trip to Wigan Athletic with Jack Stevens, Simon Eastwood and Kie Plumley either ill or isolating.

Read also: Connal Trueman joins Oxford United on emergency loan

And the 25-year-old had already spoken about the move to one of his U’s teammates, having played alongside left back Steve Seddon at Birmingham and AFC Wimbledon.

He said: “I’m pretty close with Sedds and he told me on Saturday night that they were struggling for a keeper.

“It wasn’t until late on Monday night that I spoke to (technical director) Craig Gardner at Birmingham City and it was made concrete.

“Sedds joined a little bit later than me, but we’ve been in the Under 23s and around the first team for a while.

“We had a loan together last year at Wimbledon.

“I get on really well with Sedds, so he was my first point of call.”

It had been just six months since Trueman and Seddon previously

lined-up together, in a 5-2 defeat for Birmingham at Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the Sky Bet Championship season in May.

Both spent time at Wimbledon earlier in the campaign, with the keeper sent on an emergency loan to Swindon Town in March and playing in their 2-1 derby defeat to the U’s at the County Ground.

Trueman came to Grenoble Road twice last season with Wimbledon, in a 1-1 Carabao Cup first round draw that United won on penalties and a 2-0 Boxing Day triumph for the home side.

He said: “The results weren’t positive, but from a personal point of view I felt like I did alright.

“It’s nice to have those memories to fall back on and you’re not coming into a completely brand new environment.”

Read also: Connal Trueman reflects on Oxford United debut

Trueman’s loan lasts for an initial seven days, which includes Saturday’s visit of Sky Bet League One leaders Rotherham United.

He has already played as many games for United as he has for Birmingham in 2021/22, with his only Blues outing coming in a 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Colchester United in August.

Trueman is behind Neil Etheridge and Matija Sarkic in the queue at St Andrew’s and knows there is no substitute for playing.

He said: “That’s why, for me, it’s the most difficult position on the pitch from a mental point of view.

“You just have to put the hard yards in and trust that if that opportunity comes you’re ready to take it.

“You can do all the training in the world, but nothing beats playing games.

“The match sharpness, the decision-making, you can’t replicate it.

“To get the match-time is the most important thing and the more I play, the better I’ll be.”