SHANDON Baptiste has committed himself to Oxford United by signing a new contract.

The midfielder put pen to paper this afternoon on a deal which lasts until summer 2023.

It continues the 20-year-old's rapid rise to prominence, having only made his Sky Bet League One debut last month.

But Baptiste has shone in recent weeks, scoring his first U's goal against Newport County in the Carabao Cup, before starring in front of more than 32,000 fans at Sunderland.

Boss Karl Robinson revealed a fortnight ago talks had been opened about a new deal, which has been concluded quickly.

Baptiste said: "It’s good just to get it sorted and now I can just focus on playing and getting the team up the table back where the club belongs.

"It shows their faith and now I have to repay the manager and Tiger (owner Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth) by putting in performances to help the team get three points every week."

Baptiste came through United's youth set-up and was offered a short-term deal to prove his fitness in summer 2017.

Pep Clotet handed him a debut as a substitute in the Checkatrade Trophy win at Stevenage last August.

A new contract followed last December, before he spent time out on loan gaining experience at Hampton & Richmond.

He said: "Hampton & Richmond helped with that physical side of the game.

"Getting that experience helped me to go into League One football."