OXFORD United are keen to see Will Hoskins play a couple more games for the development side before being considered for the first team.

The 28-year-old striker, pictured, made an encouraging return to action yesterday after four months out with a groin injury.

Hoskins played 65 minutes in a 4-0 win at Barnet, finding the net from Josh Ashby’s reverse pass.

Mickey Lewis, who oversaw the game, was delighted to see the ex-Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion man back in action.

Latest United news:

But the U’s assistant head coach believes it will still be a while before Hoskins is back in the frame for the senior set-up.

He said: “I think in an ideal world you want to see him in a couple more games and another couple of weeks training.

“You just want to make sure after playing this game he will come in on Thursday and be fine.

“Will wanted to play a bit longer, but we obviously want to protect him.

“He had no problems with the injury, but when people are getting tired and haven’t train-ed much, you don’t want them to pick up other problems.

“He didn’t fatigue too much, but there’s always a risk.”

U’s head coach Michael Appleton has stressed all along they would tread carefully with Hoskins’s recovery.

He had not played in 18 months due to a knee problem before joining last August and the groin injury came just four games into his U’s career.

But Lewis was happy with what he saw from Hoskins.

“Will was good on the ball and his fitness looked pretty good for someone who hasn’t done a lot of football training,” he said.

There was also good news for another striker, with John Campbell scoring twice.

The first came from the penalty spot after Callum O’Dowda was fouled and he doubled his tally after being put through one-on-one by Sam Long, who completed the scoring.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.