Rob Dickie has come on leaps and bounds since his arrival from Reading in January 2018 and is now one of the first names on the team sheet.
With the U’s flying high in League One and an FA Cup fourth-round replay against Newcastle United to look forward to, Dickie’s performances have been a key attribute to the U’s good form.
Yesterday was no different. The 23-year-old, who was partnered by summer signing Elliott Moore at the back, put in yet another dominant display as the U’s kept a clean sheet against Premier League outfit Newcastle in the FA Cup in what was his 100th appearance for the club.
The defender was tested against players with pace, players with heading ability and players with physical prowess, but the defender was not to be beaten.
As often is the case with defenders, he was thankful to goalkeeper Simon Eastwood for making a couple of relatively untroubled saves, but the number one had a comfortable game largely to Dickie and co ahead of him.
In his first season, Dickie made 15 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal, following his move for an undisclosed fee which landed him a two and a half year contract.
The number of appearances in the half of his debut season may not be too impressive, but when you compare to fellow centre backs Curtis Nelson (22), Aaron Martin (19) and Mike Williamson (17), it was very productive for the youngster.
Last season, in what was Karl Robinson’s first full season in charge, the U’s didn’t have the best campaign on the field and spent large parts of the campaign in the bottom four. That said, Dickie established himself as a key player, making 48 appearances, with only Nelson ahead of him with 54. Dickie also scored one goal as the U’s eventually finished the season in 12th.
But it was his partnership with Nelson at the back that was key to his growth. Although Nelson was stripped of the captaincy during the season, the duo teamed up well together and formed a strong partnership.
Then, Nelson departed for Cardiff City in the summer, making Dickie the first choice. John Mousinho, who also made over 40 appearances in the previous season, was the likely teammate to partner him, despite playing most of the previous campaign in a defensive midfield role.
Like when Dickie joined the club, the arrival of Elliott Moore added another promising, young defender to the squad. This season, Dickie has been solid alongside both defenders and has already made 37 appearances.
Dickie is strong in the air and commanding at the back, but it’s not just his defensive capabilities that have been a strong point this season. He has also shown the ability to play out of the defence with the ball at his feet and has provided three assists this season with some delightful forward play.
With interest from numerous clubs, including Derby County, the U’s managed to extend the defenders contract, tying him down for a further year.
