NEXT BIG THING

SPOTLIGHT ON EFL’S EMERGING STARS

NAME: DAN AGYEI

CLUB: Oxford United

AGE: 22

POSITION: Striker

WHAT THEY SAY: Oxford manager Karl Robinson: “Everyone will see that Dan has plenty of pace – but there is more to his game than that. He has a terrific attitude, which is important.

“We saw a lot of him at Under-23 level and we know he scored goals as well as stretching the game.

“Dan gives us something different and will be an exciting player for the fans to watch. It will take a while before he is involved because he’s not had a pre-season, but he is fit now.

“Right away he came in as the fastest player in the club. That alone gives you an opportunity. But he has got to learn the game because he’s still young. We’ll work hard to develop him into the striker we want him to be.”

WHAT HE SAYS: “I liked the set-up at Oxford. The training ground, the staff, the players: it is a very ambitious place and I liked the way everything is done. I want to try to help the team as part of a successful season. I feel like I’m about to kick-start my career and I’m excited to see what’s going to happen. It’s better to go and get regular men’s football than playing in the Under-23s.” HE COULD BE THE NEXT: Callum Wilson Agyei at 22 is nearing the point in his career when he needs to start making an impact after a move from AFC Wimbledon to Burnley, where he never really got a chance. Loan spells at Coventry, Walsall (five goals in nine starts) and Blackpool showed what he can do.

Strong as an ox, quick and with a good finish, Agyei’s arrival at Oxford created real excitement – only for him to be sidelined by ankle problems that hampered his pre-season. This next few months could see him bloom.