James Clarke is set to be rewarded for his meteoric progress at Oxford United with the offer of a pro contract.

The 18-year-old youth-team player, who hails from Aylesbury, was given his chance in the first team four matches ago - and grabbed it with both hands.

And he has gone on to show great maturity for his age.

U's boss Darren Patterson said he was hoping to meet James, and his father, last night with the view to offering the young right back a pro contract.

It would mean an instant increase to the trainee's wages, which are believed to be around £45 a week!

"Yes, we'll be bumping it up to £47.50, and £50 for the second year, and £52.50 for the third on a three-year deal," chuckled Patterson, tongue-in-cheek.

"Seriously, though, the lad has done ever so well.

"That can be measured by the fact that when Paddy Collins was here, on loan from Darlington, and had played well in his first two games, James would have been in ahead of him, had Paddy not been injured, because he had done better."

Yet while there was delight for Clarke, there was heartache for David Malloy, who has been told by United that he can go, and uncertainty - yet a big incentive - for two others, Danny Rose and Ben Weedon.

Both Rose and Weedon have been offered one-month contracts to show what they can do.

Rose returns to United's squad tomorrow after a hamstring injury, and could be on the bench for the FA Trophy first-round tie against Tonbridge Angels.

Weedon has also had injury problems, but he did well when he came on as a second-half replacement at left back for the disappointing Matt Day at Southend on Tuesday night.

Former Manchester United reserve-team captain Rose has not performed to the levels of last season and needs to show he can handle the physical demands of the Conference, so for both he and Weedon, the Christmas and New Year period is a critical one for their car- eers.

Midfielder Malloy suffered a serious knee injury last January while still a scholar, and was offered an extended deal when his scholarship was due to end in the summer.

He went out on loan to Banbury earlier this season but just hasn't made his mark at Oxford.

Paterson said: "His contract was up at the end of December and we've decided to make a decision now so that he can move on.

"It's a shame, and we never like to see youngsters move on, but we feel it's right for both parties and we will do everything we can to help him sort out his future elsewhere."