BRIAN Howard believes the way Oxford United’s youngsters are progressing should be real cause for optimism among supporters.

James Roberts became the latest player to progress from the club’s youth system to make his mark in the first team on Saturday, following hot in the heels of Josh Ruffels and Callum O’Dowda.

With more home-grown talent in the next batch of promising youngsters, Howard believes the future is very healthy.

“I thought James was first-class last week for his FA Cup debut and first start,” Howard said.

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“He’s been on fire for the last few weeks in training to be fair, smashing them in, so we know what he can do.

“But I thought his all-round display was superb. He held the ball up well, ran in behind well and gave the lads an option. As debuts go as a striker, it can’t get much better than that.”

Howard said the United squad ensured that ‘golden-boy’ Roberts came back to earth on Monday after his weekend exploits.

But the experienced striker says that the mindset of both him and the other rising stars means they are well set for good careers.

“He got brought down a peg or two on Monday in training,” he said.

“We did a lot of possession games and he was in the middle a lot, doing lots of running.

“We gave him a bit of stick saying that just because you got a couple of goals you can’t get out of doing this.

“But seriously, he has got a great attitude as have a lot of the young lads here.

“You have seen Callum come into the team and Sam Long and Josh Ashby coming in behind that are working with the first team daily.

“Not only are they good players, but they are great characters as well and real good lads that want to learn and get better.

“I think it’s exciting times for the fans here to see local boys coming through and into the first team.”

Howard’s appearance at Grimsby was the first time he had played for United since featuring in the 5-1 defeat at Cambridge.

The former Barnsley and Reading striker has been sidelined with a foot injury which saw him unable to train for a number of weeks.

But after coming through 90 minutes at Blundell Park, Howard says he is in good shape again.

“I am not a good watcher and don’t like missing out which I had done for a few weeks before,” he said.

“I was playing with a knock for quite a while. I think I picked it up in the Stevenage game, but it was doing me and the team no good to keep playing with it so I got a steroid injection in my foot.

“I have had good treatment from the guys here and it feels a lot better.

“It was a joint decision, but I couldn’t continue playing like it was.

“I knew that by having an injection I would miss a couple of games, but then I was going to be better off long-term, rather than missing a game here and there and it never being right.

“It’s a lot better now. I’m working hard daily, but it’s enabling me to get on the pitch.”

Howard’s display – along with that of Roberts – means that head coach Michael Appleton has some selection posers ahead of the trip to York City tomorrow.

“It was obviously nice to come in and play my part in a winning team,” Howard said.

“Competition for places means the gaffer has got options.

“It’s healthy for the whole squad. It’s not the biggest and players are going to get their chance.

“They just have to make sure they are ready, available and take their opportunity when they get it.”

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