SIMON Eastwood’s superb start to the season with Oxford United may have come as a surprise to many, but not Joe Skarz.

The goalkeeper had played just 20 games in three years at Blackburn Rovers before signing this summer, but has been the U’s stand-out performer in the first two months of the campaign.

He has only been beaten once from open play in five games – a thunderous volley from Ryan Leonard in the 2-1 midweek defeat at Southend United.

While Eastwood has been a revelation to most, Skarz has been seeing him make impressive saves since they grew up together in Huddersfield Town’s youth set-up.

“I’ve been playing with him since I was eight and I don’t think there’s a better shot-stopper out there,” he said.

“When he joined in the summer there was no-one more delighted than me.

“Not just because he’s one of my best mates, but because I knew we’d got a top class keeper.”

It is six years since the pair were at the same club and Skarz believes the period has seen a big difference in his close friend.

He said: “I think he’d say it himself, when he was younger maybe he wanted to have a laugh, but he’s grown up.

“He fell out of the game when he left Halifax (in 2012) and I think that changed him massively.

“He went to Portsmouth on trial, worked really hard and then went to Blackburn.

“He didn’t play as much as he wanted, but being at a club like Blackburn is only going to improve you.

“Since he’s come here he’s been outstanding, he works really hard because he wants to improve.

“If he’d done that more when he was younger I don’t think he’d be at this level.”

As a former Rovers player, a trip to rivals Bolton Wanderers will carry added significance to Eastwood.

It is the same for Skarz, who said: “Being a Blackburn fan I’ve been to a few derbies at Bolton, so it’s a good game.

“It’s close to home as well so my family and friends can come and watch.”