JAMES Henry is proud of the goal record he will leave behind at Oxford United when his contract expires this summer.

The 35-year-old midfielder is one of four out of contract players set to leave the club, alongside Billy Bodin, Marcus Browne and Steve Seddon.

Only 10 players have scored more goals than Henry’s 58 for the U’s, although his current nearest challenger Cameron Brannagan, on 55 strikes, will surely overtake him next season.

Henry’s goals include the winner at Doncaster Rovers in April 2018, to help preserve Sky Bet League One safety, and his wonderful hat-trick at home to Lincoln City in August 2021.

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He arrived at United in July 2017 having primarily played as a winger earlier in his career, but it was a move infield which was part of the lure of joining the club.

Discussing his record in front of goal for the U’s, he said: “Especially to do it from midfield, it’s nice to chip in with so many goals, but I’d like to think I did more than just score goals for the club.

“It’s a great achievement, but I think the biggest achievement is the overall team.

“One of the initial pulls when I signed here was that I was going to move inside into a No 10 position.

“Then we signed Jack Payne and I didn’t get to play too much there, and then once he left and went to Blackburn, I slotted in there, and I think I scored eight goals from late January onwards, which helped keep us up that season.

“That was always the aim, to play more inside, and even when Karl [Robinson] got the job, I was playing on the right, but it was more of an inverted winger.

“I had Cadds [Chris Cadden] and Longy [Sam Long] bombing round the outside of me, and I was able to get closer to the goal, and link the play a bit more.”

During his time with United, Henry developed a brilliant partnership with Matty Taylor, as both players appeared to be constantly in tune with one another.

Henry regularly provided the killer pass or cross to tee up Taylor for the finish.

“We had a great connection on and off the pitch. He’s a great guy, and the on the pitch stuff just clicked,” said Henry.

“It’s one of those ones where it’s hard to explain how it happened. He knew when the ball was coming in, and I knew where he was going to be. It just worked out perfectly.”

While Henry looks for a new club for next season, he will also continue with coaching, as he seeks to obtain the UEFA A Licence, with that process beginning over the last few weeks.