Oxford United midfielder Phil Trainer is showing such quality whenever he plays that manager Darren Patterson is sure clubs will come after him.

But the U's boss is warning: "If someone did come in, they'd better have a big fat chequebook."

Trainer, who has scored in three of United's last four games, has a remarkable record of finding the net for a midfielder.

When his prolific run at the end of last season is taken into account, the former Moor Green maestro has hit eight goals in his last 16 games – and that includes a number when he was just trying to regain full fitness.

Asked whether he expected Trainer's form and stand-out ability to attract interest from other clubs, Patterson replied: "Yes, without a shadow of a doubt.

"He's had a full year now as a professional and is getting better and better.

"I saw him four times before we invited him down to train before we signed him, and I could see then he was a proper player.

"You can see what qualities he's got – one hell of a left foot, and he's a big, strong boy." We saw that the first year in how he's got through that.: Trainer was forced to miss the start of this season with a broken foot, sustained on the training ground.

"He was incredibly unlucky with a freak injury and he's coming back stronger and stronger," said Patterson.

"We rate him very highly. If someone did come in for him, they'd better have a big, fat chequebook.

"In my opinion, he can play a lot higher up, but he's at this level this year, and we're delighted to have him. So until that changes, we'll see how he can develop and what he can do for us."

PHIL TRAINER'S LAST 16 GAMES q=fMar 24 Stevenage (H) 2-1 GOAL, Mar 29 Northwich (H) 0-1, Apr 5 Weymouth (a) 1-0 GOAL, Apr 8 Torquay (a) 2-3, Apr 12 Farsley (H) 5-1 GOAL, Apr 15 York (a) 1-0, Apr 19 Woking (a) 2-1 GOAL, Apr 22 Rushden (H) 1-0, Apr 26 Ebbsfleet (a) 3-1 GOAL, Sep 20 Crawley (H) 1-2, Sep 23 Cambridge Utd (H) 3-1, Sep 27 Lewes (a) 1-2, Oct 4 Rushden (H) 2-1 GOAL, Oct 9 Torquay (a) 1-1 GOAL, Oct 12 Altrincham (a) 0-1, Oct 18 Burton (H) 2-1 GOAL.