The speed with which Jefferson Louis has adapted to third division football makes him one of the first names Oxford United manager Ian Atkins now writes down on his teamsheet.

Jefferson LouisThe former Thame United forward's well-taken strike against Shrewsbury at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday made it two goals from just three starts since the penalty shoot-out winner at Charlton which marked his arrival on the English soccer scene.

And Atkins admitted: "Jefferson has surprised me. His emergence has been so rapid, but he's earned his place up front on merit."

Louis, 23, is one of United's certain starters in tonight's Division 3 game at Macclesfield, where they will be looking to extend their eight-game unbeaten record. But, for the first time since their new blue away strip came out, they will be unable to wear it - because Macclesfield play in blue.

Atkins said: "We've got one or two injury doubts, but what I can say is it will be the same two up front."

United are in talks with Louis, and his agent, about a new contract, and his market value has unquestionably increased since he was given two short-term contracts to see whether he could cut it in the professional game.

"Jefferson's been making rapid progress and, providing he listens to the right people, he's got a real chance of making a career out of it," Atkins said. "But he's not done it yet.

"We are virtually tying a contract up with him. He's come in here and listened, we've worked hard with him and now he's reaping the reward."

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