MARVIN Johnson is excited at the prospect of ending his long wait for a Football League debut when Oxford United host Rochdale this afternoon.

The 25-year-old is expected to feature three days after his deadline-day move from Motherwell.

Johnson played more than 100 games in the Conference for Kidderminster Harriers before he was signed by the Scottish Premier League side.

He believes the spell in non-league has given him a hunger to succeed – and he never doubted it would eventually give him a chance higher up the pyramid in England.

Johnson said: “I haven’t played in the Football League yet, but I always knew I could.

“The Motherwell opportunity came up and I took it. Every game since I’ve been there I hit the ground running and worked hard.

“It’s got me here so I’ve just got to carry on.”

He added: “The lads that go through non-league, it’s not easy to get noticed. You’ve got to roll your sleeves up and it’s not just about ability.”

While deadline day was hectic for the pacy wide man, he will step on to the Kassam Stadium pitch this afternoon full of belief.

Johnson has scored four goals already this season, just two behind his haul for the whole of the last campaign.

He said: “I believe in the saying you have to move when you’re hot.

“It can settle your nerves a bit when you go to a new team and you’ve already got that bit of confidence to take in with you.

“I want to set my stall out down here now and get my name about to show people what I can do.”

It is still early days in the Sky Bet League One season, but United’s home form is already looking vital.

All four points collected so far have come at the Kassam Stadium and the clash with winless Rochdale is an opportunity Michael Appleton’s men know they need to take.

Johnson will inject much-needed pace into the side and his delivery from wide areas should also be a boost for United’s strikers.

Indeed, the new man knows about Kane Hemmings, who also played in Scotland last year, with Dundee.

He said: “I got quite a few of my assists last year from putting the ball in the box.

“We had Louis Moult, who is a similar player to Kane. That can help me improve my game, knowing I can just get the ball in there and he will be there on the end of it.”