He has not faced as much adversity as his great friend Sam Long, but Josh Ruffels showed similar determination during his Oxford United career.

Joining his home town club aged 19 from Coventry City in 2013, he played 35 times during an encouraging first season.

Read also: Josh Ruffels joins Huddersfield Town

But Ruffels was far from a regular for the next three campaigns under Michael Appleton, although he did begin his transition from midfield to left back under the former U’s boss.

The 27-year-old began to show the goalscoring threat he has today at the end of Appleton’s final season, scoring in successive games against Port Vale and Millwall, and he has never looked back.

After waiting for his chance, Ruffels made the left back position his own under Karl Robinson: nobody has played more than his 156 matches under the U’s boss.

The defender has been Mr Reliable, topping the Sky Bet League One interceptions table last season and contributing seven goals and six assists at the other end.

A genuine role model on and off the pitch, he deserves a shot at the Sky Bet Championship.