DECISIONS have been made on which scholars will be offered their first professional contracts at Oxford United.

The club’s youth system has started to bear fruit again and the contribution is being felt in the first team with the likes of Callum O’Dowda and James Roberts featuring regularly at senior level this season.

This year’s group of second years, which include Freddie Grant, AJ George and Robbie Cundy, will be hoping to continue the trend.

Although it is yet to be finalised, U’s boss Michael Appleton met with youth team coach Chris Allen earlier this week to discuss their plan.

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Appleton, who confirmed there would be contract offers, said: “It will be (announced) within the next couple of weeks or so.

“I had a good chat with Chrissy on Monday, so we pretty much know where we’re at with them.”

Appleton has shown a willingness to put faith in young players.

Of the trio who became professionals last summer, Roberts and Josh Ashby have made their first-team debuts, while Sam Humphreys has been included in the squad several times.

United’s head coach said: “For me, at this level a development group is a group of young players who should be training with the first team every day.

“They will get games against other development groups, but it will be more about being part of the first team squad.

“We’ve got a group of young lads who have trained with me all season and have done fantastically well.

“The lads who are going to sign the pro contracts this time around are going to have to want to be part of a first team squad next season.”