James Roberts’s debut season as a professional has already surpassed his expectations, but the teenager is in no mood to slow down his rise.

The highlights have come thick and fast in the last three months, from the Oxford United striker’s senior debut, to netting twice on his first start, against Grimsby Town.

Even with a hamstring injury delaying progress for a month, Roberts roared back to bag a stunning winning goal in Sunday’s 2-1 success at Plymouth Argyle.

The 18-year-old has plenty of self-belief.

But even he did not expect to score four goals in his first four starts.

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“I’m absolutely buzzing at the moment,” he said.

“I was saying to my parents the other day I never expected to be near the first team in the first year of my professional deal.

“But all of a sudden it’s come very quickly and I’m where I want to be.

“The gaffer gave me an opportunity against Grimsby and I took that.

“I had one against York and took that.

“Unfortunately the injury hit me at the wrong time, but again he gave me a chance (at Plymouth) and I’ve taken it.”

The strike at Home Park was an immediate contender for United’s goal of the season.

It was also impressive because it came only two days after Roberts had returned to first-term action following five weeks out with a hamstring injury.

He said: “Before the goal I wasn’t sure I could get through ten more minutes, but when you score all of a sudden a belief comes over you and it’s a fantastic feeling.

“I’m 90 per cent of the way to being fully fit, ten per cent is mental because you’ve got to get over the fact there’s a slight twinge there still.

“But there’s always going to be that once you’ve done your hammy.

“There’s competition for places but hopefully I’ll start again against Cheltenham and it’ll be 100 per cent there.”

A teenager scoring regularly is bound to attract attention, but ahead of the transfer window opening tomorrow, U’s head coach Michael Appleton is not bracing himself for a flurry of offers – yet.

He said: “Put it this way, if I was an opposition manager, he would certainly be someone I’d be aware of. But I wouldn’t be throwing my hat on someone who had scored four goals in four games.

“Now if he had scored 14 goals in 14 games it might be a bit of a different problem come the summer.

“We’re just going to let him enjoy his football, put no pressure on him and make sure he stays the same person and his attitude doesn’t change.

“Hopefully he will flourish and score lots more goals for Oxford.”

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