WILL Hoskins believes there is still time for him to make a big impact on Oxford United’s season after making a long-awaited return for injury on Saturday.

The striker’s 16-minute cameo as a substitute was the highlight of a drab goalless draw away to Dagenham & Redbridge.

It ended four months on the sidelines with a groin injury for Hoskins, who had missed well over a year with a knee problem before signing in August.

Regardless of the lack of excitement on offer at Victoria Road, the 28-year-old was delighted to get back on the pitch.

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He said: “It’s brilliant to have that feeling of competitive league football.

“I’ve missed it so much, I just couldn’t wait to get on there.”

With only 70 minutes of football for the development side under his belt, Hoskins, who will get another run out for the second string tomorrow, is still some way off being match fit.

But he showed flashes of quality in the brief appearance to show why head coach Michael Appleton believes he can make a big difference to United’s cutting edge.

And while the season has not gone to plan for him so far, Hoskins thinks there is ample time to make his mark.

“You only have to look at the past and you’ll see all can be forgotten if I can go and score 15 goals in 20 games – it can happen,” he said.

“My aim is to do well for the lads, work hard and try to add something different for us and try to get us climbing that table to get us achieving what we all want to achieve.”

He added: “I hope I can be that bit of balance or that final piece of the jigsaw which can get us going in the right direction and playing the football we want.”

Patrick Hoban is also due to play for the development side tomorrow as he comes back from an ankle injury.

But while two strikers have now left the treatment room, one has picked up a problem.

James Roberts was forced off at Dagenham after tweaking a hamstring in a tackle.

It was the same muscle which kept him out for a month earlier in the season, raising concerns about a persistent issue.

United took heart from the fact he was substituted immediately and more could be known when he is assessed today.

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