ENJOY Shandon Baptiste while he is still at Oxford United, teammate Rob Hall has urged.
The midfielder, still only 21, lit up Saturday’s 4-1 win over Hartlepool United in the Emirates FA Cup with a stunning solo goal.
It came 12 months on from the lowest point of his career – a serious knee injury in last season’s third round tie at Brentford.
But Baptiste has since come back stronger and his eye-catching display will only make United’s job of hanging on to him in this transfer window tougher.
Hall, who came through the youth set-up at West Ham, admitted his teammate had a rare ability.
“Shandon didn’t shoot, he just decided to walk it in the net,” Hall said.
“To have that quality, I’m laughing saying it because you don’t see that in many places.
“I’ve played with people like Dele Alli and Shandon does things that makes me just laugh and think ‘what a player’. He’s a joy to be around.”
He added: “I’m not surprised because I’ve seen him since he was 18 or 19. Now he’s just flourishing.
“Things like that show how good he is, so just try to enjoy being with him as long as we can as a club.”
Hall knows what Baptiste has gone through in the past year, having recovered from a similar injury.
He said: “He’s reacted in the best way. He’s stronger, probably faster.
“He’s 21 and you see what a future he’s got ahead of him.”
Robinson joked the goal was only “all right”, but while no formal approaches have been received the head coach expects plenty of enquiries.
He said: “The wellbeing of his next move is important.
“Sometimes it might be a financially good move, but not the right one. We’ve got to get this right for him now.
“We’ve not had any offers anyway, so it’s all pie in the sky as we stand here right now.
“But scoring goals like that in these type of competitions, a lot of questions are sure to be asked.”
United are confident their first January signing will be sealed this week.
Feyenoord midfielder Liam Kelly was believed to be watching from the stands on Saturday ahead of a proposed loan move.
Robinson also confirmed an interest in West Ham United winger Nathan Holland and Kilmarnock right back Steven O’Donnell, while Ricardinho’s agent had been in contact about a surprise return.
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