STAN Mills is continuing to take on information from those around him while making a big impression at Oxford United.
The 20-year-old winger arrived on loan from Everton in July, and has gone on to grab a goal and two assists in 12 Sky Bet League One games.
He has however forced own goals out of both Barnsley defender Jordan Williams, and then Lincoln City goalkeeper Lukas Jensen in midweek.
Mills replaced Sam Long after just eight minutes against the Imps, after the latter was forced off due to injury.
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“The gaffer always wants us to be ready whenever we’re needed, and I thought I was ready and affected the game well,” said Mills.
“When I’m on the pitch, I just like to be direct and try and create.
“It was a really good away performance and hopefully we can continue the momentum.
“It makes it more comfortable getting the second goal, but we were in control of the game anyway.
“We did well to keep them to little chances and I thought we were dangerous every time we attacked.”
Mills’ dad, the former Leeds United and Manchester City right back Danny Mills, has been keeping a close eye on his son’s progression with the U’s.
Everton loanee Mills said: “He comes to pretty much every game and I think he’s only missed two this season.
“He always tells me the bad things I did in a game before the good things. He’s always trying to help me learn, and the gaffer does that as well.
“I think I take it on board well. It’s been brilliant so far and hopefully we can just continue throughout the season.”
“I thought it was a really professional away performance and we restricted Lincoln to very little, especially in the second half.”
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) November 1, 2023
Liam Manning was delighted with a ‘professional away performance’ from #oufc last nighthttps://t.co/LP1cfihYFq
Mills meanwhile has for the last seven games been battling with Brentford loanee Fin Stevens for the right wing back berth in United’s 3-4-2-1 formation.
Stevens has started five times, with Mills the other two, however the latter says he is more than at ease playing in a slightly more defensive position.
He said: “I’ve played there before quite a lot and I think I fit into that role quite well because I’m good one v one, and it’s often wide player against wide player, and I think I can affect the game well out there.
“You’ve got to do it [defensive side of the game] and if you don’t do it, you won’t play, so you’ve got to enjoy every part of the game.”
U’s head coach Liam Manning said of Mills: “He wants to improve and get better, he turns up every day, he’s a terrific character and has fitted into the group really well.
“He can change games and have game-changing moments, but that’s underpinned by some terrific behaviours like his defensive stuff and the way he defends the box.”
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