MATTY BECOMES HOMETOWN HERO
On-loan U’s ace hails boss Robinson and team-mates
DETERMINED and with a point to prove, Matty Taylor has returned with a bang to his hometown club Oxford United.
The on-loan striker joined from Bristol City in August and, despite suffering a groin strain in his second game against former club Bristol Rovers, he had scored eight goals in all competitions ahead of the weekend.
It has been an especially sweet comeback for the 29-yearold after the start of his career at the U’s ended in disappointment, when he was released in 2009 – having played just seven games.
“When I signed, I was buzzing to come back and get the chance to play properly for my hometown club,” said Taylor.
“I’ve played with players throughout my career who have mentioned how playing for your hometown club gives you that extra buzz. That’s spot on and I was excited to come back and show the Oxford fans what they were missing all those years ago.
“I had the bit between my teeth to prove them wrong for the first few years after they released me and then I got on with my career but I did hope I would come back and play here. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so.
Attacking
“It did feel like there was extra pressure on me to score but I’ve got off to a good start and hopefully I can kick on.”
Taylor’s form has been one of the reasons behind an outstanding start for Oxford this season that has seen them flying high in League One, fighting their way through to a mouth-watering Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester City and making the third round of the FA Cup.
However, he believes credit should be shared between manager Karl Robinson and his fellow attacking teammates, who have helped make the U’s the third tier’s second-highest scorers.
Taylor said: “We’ve been playing some excellent football. The whole team has been flying – hence why we’ve been doing so well in all competitions.
“I’m very grateful for the team I’m in. It’s a bit like a gun, you can’t shoot unless you have bullets so I’m lucky with the teammates I’ve got.
“Karl wants to play possession-based attacking football, which lets me work to my strengths in and around the box.
“The goals are coming from all areas. James Henry is on ten, Tariqe (Fosu) is on eight, I’m on eight and Cameron Brannagan’s on seven.
“Opposition teams can’t nullify one or two threats because, if they do, someone else pops up. The team spirit is high.”
With his contract at Bristol City up at the end of the season, and Robinson stating his desire to sign the forward permanently, Taylor has decisions to make on his future.
But in the present, he only has eyes for a certain historic clash on the horizon.
He added: “I had an informal conversation with the club and they expressed an interest in signing me, and I am interested, but I just want to see what we can achieve this year and worry about my future later.
“Ideally, I’d help get Oxford promoted as that would make the conversation a lot easier, staying in the Championship.
“The cup quarter-final will be a tough test. We had a memorable night against West Ham (beating them 4-0 in the third round) but Man
City are on another level. It’s at home, so it’s going to be a great night.”