DERICK Osei is still being lined up for a loan away from Oxford United, despite sending them through in the Papa John’s Trophy.

The 22-year-old completed the set of goals in all three group games with a wonderful strike in the 1-0 victory at Walsall.

His 87th-minute effort was a cut above most of the action at the Bescot Stadium.

It rubber-stamped United’s progress to the first knockout stage next month as group winners, earning a home tie.

That will be Osei’s next opportunity to feature for Karl Robinson’s side, after he was left out of the squad registered with the EFL last month for league games.

It made room for the U’s to bring in Jordan Obita, who made his debut in the game.

Head coach Karl Robinson does believe Osei has a future at the club, but while his finishing has caught the eye, there are other parts of his game which need work.

He said: “Derick came on and scored a fantastic goal.

“We see that most days in training, we’ve (also) seen other parts of the game we know have to be better.

“We’ve always said Derick’s a work in progress at this club.

“He’s not for today, he’s got another year on his contract, this year is for bedding in and we still think he needs a loan to make those mistakes.

“But we know he’s got that prowess to score when it drops to that right foot.”

While it was a scrappy game which will not live long in the memory for most, that is not the case for Leon Chambers-Parillon.

The midfielder, who turned 19 last week, came off the bench to make his professional debut.

It was his pass which set up Osei’s goal, to cap off an unforgettable night.

He said: “It’s a huge moment.

“I want to say thank you to my family, the coaching staff and friends that have got me through the journey.

“It’s only the start, but I’m very happy to have made my debut.

“The gaffer told me to be positive and express myself. I felt like I did that.

“He’s put a lot of trust in me through the training sessions.

“I’ve been built up from 16 for this moment, so I felt like I was ready to take it.”

Robinson has used the competition to throw youngsters in before, but the fact the game was on a

knife-edge when he made the change spoke volumes.

Chambers-Parillon said: “That’s the trust he has in young players.

“I was warming up just hoping.

“When he said my name I was excited and thinking a lot of things.”