OISIN Smyth said he failed to lose motivation despite a challenging first year with Oxford United.

The Northern Irish midfielder joined United from Dungannon Swifts on January deadline day last year, and has had to be patient to make an impression.

Smyth made his league debut when he replaced the injured James Henry in first half stoppage time during the 3-2 defeat at home to Derby County, before going on to make his first league start in the 1-1 draw at Morecambe.

This season though has seen Smyth endure injury, an unsuccessful trial and a brief loan move.

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The 22-year-old injured his hamstring just as he was about to head out on loan to an unnamed Vanarama National League side back in October, before a trial at a Sky Bet League Two club in December saw no loan deal struck.

Smyth then made three appearances for National League side Solihull Moors during a loan spell in January.

The stop-start nature of the season has irritated Smyth, however he said he remained focused on breaking into the United side throughout.

“It’s been frustrating and very tough but at the same time I always just wanted to get out there,” he said.

“I kept working hard and when I got my chance, I knew I was going to have to take it.

“I don’t think motivation was an issue, I was always motivated and knew I had to keep working if I wanted to achieve the things in football that I want to do.

“Motivation was never the issue for me but at the same time, it was frustrating and long for me but hopefully I’ve come out at the other end.”

U’s head coach Liam Manning was impressed with what he saw from Smyth during the draw against Morecambe at the weekend.

He said: “His running capacity is terrific. He was flat out giving everything he could for the team, which is really important.

“He had some bits where we’ll sit with him and show him, to help his game but he should be proud.”

Although primarily regarded as a more defensively minded midfielder, Manning utilised Smyth higher up the pitch at Morecambe.

With Cameron Brannagan and Marcus McGuane as the sitting midfielders, Smyth played in a No 10 role behind lone striker Gatlin O’Donkor.

Explaining his decision to play Smyth further forward, Manning said: “He played a little bit higher, I’m not sure he’s a natural 10 and I think he’d be the first to say that.

“In terms of what we expected them to do, making it very man for man and being able to hurt them down the outside, which I thought we did quite well when we were switching it in the first half.

“The main thing for him was then to get in the box and use his running capacity.

“For me, he’s more of an 8, he’s someone that can do box-to-box.

“You see that with his running, he’s a solid all-rounder so I think in terms of that, it was to add an element of physicality away from home in the middle of the pitch, and he brought that.”

United reportedly fended off competition from several clubs to sign Smyth last year, when he agreed a three and a half year deal with the club.