OXFORD United will continue to run the rule over Jodi Jones after the winger got much-needed minutes under his belt against Hungerford Town.

The 24-year-old played the first hour of the pre-season friendly in Berkshire, setting up Oisin Smyth’s opening goal in a 2-1 victory.

Ben Davis scored a long-range winner, following Joel Rollinson’s equaliser 13 seconds after half-time.

Read the match report here

Jones is back training with United after spending last week on trial at Reading and showed his ability in a lively display.

The former Coventry City star has played just 14 matches in the last three seasons due to successive knee injuries, but U’s first team coach Leon Blackmore-Such is aware of his quality.

He said: “He looked sharp considering he’s had his injuries and a tough time.

“I remember seeing Jodi in real high moments as a real talent and he showcased that in spells.

“He knows he’s got to get back to the physical levels that he can achieve and keep himself fit.

“From our point of view and from Jodi’s I’m sure there will be conversations that come later on.

“Our plan moving forwards is to keep him in the building, as long as he’s happy to stay here both parties will be happy.”

United were expected to have two trialists on show at Hungerford, with Jerome Sinclair also training with the club.

The former loanee played the first half at Banbury United on Saturday in his first outing for more than a year.

Sinclair was set to get another run-out in Berkshire, but his name was not on the team sheet.

Blackmore-Such revealed the U’s are taking a safety-first approach with a player who was without a club last season.

“His was a fatigue thing,” he said.

“He hasn’t played for a year, so it’s important he manages himself but also that we manage it.

“We want to get the best version of Jerome at the right time, to give him the best opportunity to perform and see what happens.

“We want to see him as soon as we can, but we’re not going to rush the player.

“If he trains Friday that’s brilliant, if it takes a little bit longer that’s where we’re at.”

United ended the match with almost a full-strength line-up and those players are likely to start at Eastleigh tonight (7.45pm).

But the U’s played a younger XI for the first 70 minutes of the pre-season friendly, giving prospects like Smyth and Davis the chance to shine.

The Northern Ireland international’s opener was his first United goal, albeit in a friendly, while Thai midfielder Davis reaped the benefits of extra work on the training pitch with his 25-yard strike.

Blackmore-Such said: “He stays behind regularly with a lot of the senior boys and does finishing, obviously he took that one well.

“It’s maybe a surprise to people watching but not a surprise to us, because we do see him work on it.”