THE January transfer window can be a notoriously difficult time to recruit, but Oxford United made no mistake in 2018 with Rob Dickie.

After growing up in Reading’s youth system, the centre back was eager to get out and experience the real world.

It took more than a month to make his Football League debut, by which time United were under the caretaker stewardship of Derek Fazackerley.

A 3-1 defeat at Rotherham United gave the then 21-year-old his first lesson – and he has been improving ever since.

Between then and now, the U’s have played 113 games. Dickie has featured in 100 of them, starting 99.

“Considering I only joined a couple of Januarys ago I’m quite proud to have played that many games and to have given that much to Oxford,” he said.

“I really appreciate Oxford, the whole time I’ve been here the club’s been great to me and I’m really enjoying it.”

Leaving a club in the Championship and dropping a level would be seen by some as a backward step.

But Dickie’s leap into the unknown has been totally vindicated,

He said: “I’m so grateful to Reading, they gave me my footballing education, but they couldn’t give me something Oxford could, which was

first-team football.

“Some players like to stay at the clubs higher in the leagues, but for your personal development my advice to any young player is if you can get first-team football as early as you can – just do it.

“Nothing can replicate that game at 3pm on a Saturday and how much it means to everyone.”

Across his century of appearances, Dickie’s game has blossomed.

He remains a quiet voice around the training ground, but the defender’s influence has steadily increased.

Boss Karl Robinson gave him the captain’s armband against Manchester City last month in a bid to test his leadership credentials.

Dickie rose to the occasion, as he did last weekend against Newcastle United in the Emirates FA Cup.

Up against a £40million striker in Joelinton, the defender held his own – and those performances against

top-flight opposition mean he is at risk of a late bid in the final hours of the transfer window.

For Dickie’s part, the 40th clean sheet of his U’s career coming at St James’ Park was special.

He said: “Clean sheets are my goal and I feel like I played quite well.

“I had a good little battle with Joelinton, which I feel like I came out on the right side of.

“I love those games because you can really test yourself against

high-quality players who are worth a lot of money.

“I was proud of how I did.”

The excitement for United – and those scouts watching Dickie – is a feeling he still has other gears to find.

“I defend first and from there I like to implement my style,” he said.

“I like to bring the ball out and pass it.

“As long as I can do that consistently and at a good level I’d like to keep pushing on.”

He added: “I feel happy about the whole place at the moment.

“This is a good club to be at and we all have one goal, which is promotion this season.”