Mark Bonner predicts Cambridge United to thrive off challenge of Sky Bet League One

Mark Bonner is predicting Cambridge United to thrive off the challenge of their first campaign in Sky Bet League One in 19 years.

The U’s start the 2021/22 season this Saturday (August 7) at home to Oxford United, after last year’s second-place finish in League Two.

It will definitely be a learning curve for the squad as they adjust to their new surroundings, which includes the likes of Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Portsmouth.

“I think the level is very different,” said United head coach Bonner.

“We’re going into one of the toughest League Ones for a number of years, everybody keeps saying.

“We know how big that challenge is but the context of being almost at home in League Two and knowing it inside out, we felt we had developed a squad and a formula to be successful in it, and the proof was in the pudding, we did it excellently.”

There have been squad changes, with Paul Mullin, Kyle Knoyle and Luke Hannant leaving, to be replaced by the likes of Sam Smith, James Brophy, George Williams, Jensen Weir and Lloyd Jones.

Keeper Will Mannion was a new addition from Pafos yesterday.

“Now we are trying to put things in place and plan for what we think things will be,” said Bonner, pictured, “but that is why we have to create a team and an environment where people want to learn, embrace challenge and a culture where developing people and a team is paramount.

“We know along the way that there is going to be a level that maybe at times catches us out, things that we haven’t been used to in the level below, and we’re going to have to make those adjustments as we go along as a coaching team.

“That for me is really exciting because if we’re open-minded, all love learning and want to work hard to improve and get better, then we have put ourselves in a brilliant scenario where we’re going to have to really be tested. I think the players are going to thrive off that.”