OXFORD United are giving a second chance to a young player who was kicked out of West Brom - because they believe he could go on to become something special, writes Jon Murray.

Mosiah Blake was sacked by the first division club last week because of alleged ticket irregularities.

But United's new manager Denis Smith, who first gave the teenager his big chance when he was boss at The Hawthorns, has extended his trial at the Manor Ground and is looking at ways of trying to keep him.

The club are negotiating with West Brom about taking over the 18-year-old's registration to see if they can thrash out a mutually amicable deal.

"We're trying to sort out his registration with West Brom and see whether there may be any compensation involved," said Smith.

"Even though he has left there now, it seems they don't want to let him go for nothing, and it may be that, if he goes on to be a £1m player, they will want a 20 per cent sell-on. But I'm sure we could live with that." In training at Trinity College yesterday, Blake showed what a good left foot he has. He strikes the ball beautifully and is quick and mobile.

United's boss, who himself was sacked by Albion just before the start of this season, added: "He was a left winger and he can play at left back. He's not bad, but we're just taking it one step at a time at the moment.

"He made a mistake. I'm not happy about it but I don't think a player should pay for something like this for the rest of his life."

Mickey Lewis played alongside Blake for United's Reserves against Bristol Rovers Reserves last week (Albion have given permission for him to him play a stipulated number of reserve team games for Oxford) and the coach was impressed. "He did well in the reserves, especially as it was his first game for three or four weeks," Lewis said.

Blake does not deny that he did wrong, but is disappointed with the way news of it came out, and now he just wants to get on with his career.

"Denis was the one who gave me a chance when I was at West Brom and he's giving me a chance again," he said.

"It's not really fair to say I was sacked. I left and we signed something to say that it was by mutual agreement, so I'm unhappy that it came out as me being sacked.

"It was a mistake I made. It was a little ticket scam which is something a lot of people do, and I just got caught out.

"But I just want to get on with my football, and on with my life now. I'm enjoying it at Oxford, but this was only my second training session, so I'm only just getting into it.

"Being in digs is a bit different for me," he added. "I'd been living at home when I was at West Brom." Smith gave Blake first-team chances in a friendly against Rotherham and in Tony Brown's testimonial against the Jamaica national team in front of more than 20,000.

If his registration comes through today, he could play for United's youth team in their rearranged Football League Youth Alliance fixture against Notts County at Iffley Road this afternoon. And there the crowd will be closer to 20.

Story date: Wednesday 16 February

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