Ikechi Anya admitted he might never have achieved such considerable success as a professional footballer if not for his spell at Oxford City, writes Matthew Bruce.

The Watford winger has enjoyed a remarkable rise to become a regular fixture in the Scotland side, featuring in last month’s friendly with England in front of 55,000 spectators at Celtic Park.

Anya could hardly have believed he would enjoy such success when he signed for City in 2007 after being released by Wycombe Wanderers, having started out with Oxford United’s youth team.

But he believes the experience of dropping down to Southern League level ultimately helped him on his path to international football.

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“It’s not a nice feeling,” admitted Anya, who returned to Marsh Lane last week to give a talk to City’s aspiring academy players.

“But you’ve got two options: either let it defeat you or try and build your career again.

“I came to Oxford City and they were good to me.

“They helped me get fit, they gave me games and just from there it developed and I managed to work my way up into the Football League.”

Anya’s stay at City was brief, making just 12 appearances before moving on to Halesowen Town and eventually to Championship side Watford, via the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain.

But Glasgow-born Anya, who was raised in Kidlington from the age of seven, retains a soft spot for the club he credits with helping him get his career back on track.

“They put me on the map and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity they gave me and of course they played a part in me achieving what I’m achieving today,” he said.

“I was thankful that Oxford City gave me the opportunity to get fit and to play.”

He added: “There was no ‘I’m too good for this level’ feeling. I clearly wasn’t because I got released from Wycombe for a reason.

“Just through that mentality of wanting to prosper and work hard I managed to get myself back into the Football League.

“In football, if you put your pride and your ego to the side there’s so much more that can be achieved.”

Anya’s return to Marsh Lane comes in a season when City’s aspiring academy players reached the FA Youth Cup third round for the first time since the 1980-81 season, before bowing out 3-1 to Royston Town on Monday.

And Anya feels City’s youngsters are capable of emulating his own rise.

He said: “All of them have talent, they just maybe need to apply themselves a bit better and hopefully the talk might have spurred them on.

“If I managed to do it, they’re probably more talented than me, so if they give it the right application and mental attitude then they can achieve much more than even I have done.”

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