Leicester City’s transfer move is proving successful, potentially saving the club millions.
Center-back Ben Nelson has yet to secure a victory in his six appearances for loan club Oxford, but his time at the Kassam Stadium is still progressing as planned.
Ben Nelson’s early loan spell at Oxford United has shown promise, even though he’s yet to experience a win with the team.
The young Leicester City center-back has made six appearances, and although Oxford has drawn five of these matches and only lost once—against league leaders Sunderland—Nelson’s personal development on the field has been impressive.
At first glance, it might seem like his loan isn’t going well due to the lack of wins.
However, Leicester’s main focus isn’t necessarily on Oxford’s results but on Nelson’s growth as a player.
City wanted him in a setting where he would face significant challenges, and Oxford’s recent matches suggest he’s in just the right place for that.
While Nelson could have opted to join a higher-ranked team with better promotion prospects, his choice to play for Oxford indicates a desire to grow in a challenging environment where he would be tasked with developing his defensive skills, not just focusing on his offensive strengths.
Nelson, 20, is known as a ball-playing defender, reminiscent of players like John Stones.
His technical ability and comfort on the ball made him a good fit for Enzo Maresca’s possession-heavy Leicester City squad last season. But at Oxford, he’s had to expand his skillset.
As a newly-promoted club in the Championship, Oxford isn’t often in possession, averaging around 47%, which ranks them 17th in the division.
This has placed Nelson in a position where he’s frequently on the defensive, facing pressure and learning to stay alert throughout the match.
His performance so far indicates that he’s adapting well to this more defensive role.
Oxford has faced more crosses into their penalty area than any other Championship team, yet Nelson ranks fourth in the league for clearances per 90 minutes.
This statistic highlights his ability to position himself well and protect the goal area effectively.
Additionally, he’s shown strength in one-on-one situations, achieving a 100% tackle success rate against opposing dribblers.
Among players with at least eight attempted tackles, he’s one of only two to maintain a perfect record, underscoring his defensive reliability.
While his primary focus at Oxford has been on defensive duties, Nelson hasn’t lost the opportunity to showcase his ball-carrying abilities.
Oxford United values his capacity to step out from the back line and initiate attacks.
Assistant manager Craig Short, a former top-flight center-back for Everton and Blackburn, has been encouraging Nelson to bring the ball forward when the situation allows.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Short commented, “I’m encouraging him to do that, and I’ve spoken to him quite a bit about it.
When you’ve got one center forward pressing you, you can do that.”
Nelson’s athleticism and technical abilities have also been noted by the Oxford coaching staff.
Short highlighted Nelson’s pace, describing him as one of the fastest players on the team.
“He glides across the ground and is probably one of the quickest players here,” he added.
Nelson’s ambidexterity has also been evident, with Short noting, “He’s got two good feet, and you wouldn’t think he was right-footed with some of the left-footed diagonals he was hitting.”
In all, Nelson’s loan experience at Oxford United has been about growth, with an emphasis on developing the more rugged, defensive aspects of his game.
By facing pressure, staying alert, and adapting to a more defensive role, he’s taking crucial steps forward in his career.
Although wins have been elusive for Oxford in his appearances so far, Nelson’s loan spell is shaping up to be an invaluable period for his development.
