Ian Atkins believes that Jamie Brooks is only a month away from seriously challenging for a place in the Oxford United squad.

The 20-year-old striker, who has been battling back to full fitness from the life-threatening Guillain-Barre Syndrome, has been on loan at Maidenhead United in a bid to get match-fit.

Brooks scored one goal at the Ryman Premier Division side, but with his month's loan over, is now back at Oxford.

Although he has continued to train with the U's throughout his spell at Maidenhead, Atkins says that the difference in his play is already noticeable.

"Because of the weather, we trained on Astro-turf on Monday and Tuesday, and Brooksy was awesome," Atkins said.

"You could notice a massive difference already, and you could see the other players all looking around and thinking 'wow'.

"That month when he was playing a lot of games has done him the world of good, and because we do not really have many reserve fixtures coming up, I would think he will go out on loan again for another month just to help him some more."

The U's boss must now decide where the former £2m Arsenal target will go on loan again next month.

"He could go back to Maidenhead, but we'll have to wait and see," Atkins said.

"It may help him if he could have a month in the Conference, because a spell of really competitive football like that will do him the world of good.

"There is nothing definite sorted at the moment, but if he can get another really good month under his belt, hopefully he could be challenging for a place here come the end of the season.

"That would be a massive boost to everyone at the club."