MARVIN Ekpiteta has become the second youngster to earn a scholarship with Oxford United after graduating from the Advanced Apprentice Course.

The 17-year-old follows in the footsteps of classmate Josh Hill, who last month became the first player from the inaugural intake to be offered terms.

Ekpiteta, a 6ft 4in centre half, will now have two years in the U’s youth set-up to impress and earn a professional contract.

He said: “The course has been excellent.

“I always knew it would be hard, but maybe didn’t realise it would be as much hard work as it actually turned out to be.”