CANICE Carroll has become the latest homegrown youngster at Oxford United to agree terms on a professional contract.

The 16-year-old has been with his home town club for almost a decade and can play at centre back or in midfield.

He will join 11 other players in the first-team set-up who have come through United's youth system.

It continues a good month for Carroll, whose deal will begin in January when he turns 17, having earned a call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under 17s.

He said: “It’s a massive step for me but I am very proud that Michael Appleton, the coaches and everyone at the club has given me this chance.

"There are so many people who have helped me along the way and now all I want to do is repay their faith by working hard and continuing to develop as a player.”

U's boss Michael Appleton said: “We have monitored his progress and seen him continue to develop and mature and he fully deserves this opportunity.

"He is very level-headed and he has good people around him who understand that the hard work really starts now.

“Canice stepped up and trained with the first team in pre-season and you could see straight away that he looked at home in that company.

"There is a long way to go but provided he continues to listen to the right people and continues to work at his game then he has a very bright future ahead of him.”