TYLER Goodrham says the support of Oxford United’s senior players has been a huge boost as he looks to break into the first team.
The forward has had a week to remember, scoring a stoppage-time winner against Cambridge United on Saturday – the day before he turned 19 - to bag his first U’s goal on his league debut.
Goodrham then played 90 minutes three days later as United knocked Sky Bet Championship side Swansea City out of the Carabao Cup.
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The teenager is used to being around the first team, having spent several months training with the senior squad.
And he is grateful for the way United’s players have welcomed him into the group.
Goodrham said: “After training we’ll do extras where you’ve got Mous (John Mousinho) doing the finishing drills. When you’re watching Matty Taylor and Josh Murphy strike you pick up little bits every day.
“Cam Brannagan is the best for it, he puts his arm around you and gives you that confidence in training to go and express yourself.
“He tells me ‘Ty, be a magician, be you’ and he helps me a lot. It makes me believe me in myself a lot more.”
Goodrham is among a group of youngsters to regularly train with the first team, with some involved in the matchday squad this season.
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James Golding, 18, also played 90 minutes against Swansea, while 20-year-old Slavi Spasov was a late substitute and striker Gatlin O’Donkor, just 17, on the bench at Derby County before sustaining an ankle injury last week.
“You see them in training, no-one looks out of place,” Goodrham added.
“None of them are scared, you’ve got no fear whatsoever inside that group.
“It’s quite intimidating coming in, but they all want to be better and compete with those boys.
“It’s a very good group (of senior players) this year as well so it’s more difficult than any other, but I’d back our young boys to compete and be as brave as they can.”
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