Oxford United manager Darren Patterson is convinced young star Sam Deering is ready for the rigours of regular first-team football.

The 17-year-old former Charlton Athletic and Chelsea youth team player had a fine full debut at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday as the U's beat Burton Albion 2-1 in the Blue Square Premier.

There was an element of risk in Patterson throwing in someone so young on the left side of midfield, following an injury to skipper Joe Burnell.

But United's manager said he had confidence that Deering would produce, as he has so often when he's come off the bench.

Patterson said: "Obviously I brought Sam here and have known him a long time, but I've been very careful with him.

"It's easy just to stick him in and have a gamble with him, but you've got to be careful with these young kids.

"But he's ready, you could see that. I didn't even think once about taking him off because he's not only physically ready, but mentally. He's got a heart the size of a house and he's a technically good player, and he'll get better.

"The more he gets in the team, the more he'll grow in confidence, and he can play on the left or right, or in that little pocket in between, so he's got a lot of things going for him and we're very pleased for him."

As a former youth team coach himself, Patterson knows well when to judge it with the youngsters, and he may yet pick and choose the games Deering starts in this first full season, just as he did last year with James Clarke.

"Yes, I'm a big believer in that," Patterson said.

"I don't know many kids where you can batter them week in week out, especially at this level."

Teenage striker Matty Taylor is another showing promise.

He came off the bench and played his part in helping United hold out for a third successive home league win.

"Matty got a great block in off John McGrath, who hit it like a rocket," Patterson said.

"He's again a good kid with a great attitude. In training, he's probably our best finisher, but we've sent him out, for his fitness levels, to play men's football, he's come back and he's looked really sharp."