Josh Ashby was grateful he was given little warning about making his senior debut for Oxford United in the 2-2 draw with Exeter City.

The highly-rated youth team graduate only found out he was in the starting line-up on Saturday lunchtime.

It ended a long wait for a taste of first-team action for the 18-year-old who has been an unused substitute seven times this season.

He said: “I only found out a few hours before the game.

“It was just when the teamsheet went up at pre-match, about 12 o’clock.

“The gaffer just said play your normal game and enjoy yourself – I didn’t have much time to think about it and maybe it helped me.”

From the sidelines Ashby appeared to settle into the men’s game with ease and did not look like a rookie.

But inside there were plenty of nerves, which took time to evaporate.

He said: “It’s so different, the first 25 minutes I was running around like I’ve never done before.

“In the under 21 games you don’t get that because you’re only playing in front of a maximum of 100 people.

“But playing in front of that many supporters you get more adrenalin, I was just buzzing.”

He added: “Robbo (James Roberts) had a great finish at the end, we definitely deserved to draw and maybe win it.

“It was devastating to go 2-1 down so late, but I knew we had something left and could grab a goal.”