MARCUS McGuane’s pre-season displays in a different role have earned high praise at Oxford United.

The 23-year-old was deployed as a deep-lying midfielder in the club’s summer friendlies, having generally played further forward in his first two years with the U's.

United have no obvious candidate to start in the holding role at Derby County on Saturday, with Alex Gorrin still returning to full fitness, Cameron Brannagan more effective further forward and Oisin Smyth untested in Sky Bet League One.

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Whether McGuane gets the nod at Pride Park remains to be seen, but head coach Karl Robinson has been impressed with his performances.

“I think he’s been exceptional in that position,” the U’s head coach said.

“That was something we earmarked in the summer as a possibility, his power is undoubtedly the best in the club with Marcus Browne.”

McGuane had a stop-start 2021/22 season, with 18 of his 35 appearances coming as a substitute.

It came after the former Arsenal trainee joined United from Nottingham Forest on a three-year deal last May following a promising loan spell the previous campaign.

McGuane was just hitting his stride when he suffered a season-ending thigh injury in January 2021 and U’s assistant manager Craig Short reckons he can rediscover that form.

He said: “I think Marcus has done well. He’s lost two or three kilos, he’s looking very fit and been one of our stronger runners this pre-season.

“He looks nearly at the top of his level.

“Before he got injured he was having a really good time for us and he seemed to all of a sudden find another gear.

“I don’t think he got back to that level last year, but that’s his potential.

“I’m sure he’s on the way back to that level because he’s certainly looked like it this pre-season.”

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McGuane started in the deeper midfield role against Wigan Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers around the turn of the year, so it is not completely new territory.

In fact, the Gunners graduate revealed last season that it is a position he became accustomed to as he progressed through the ranks at the Emirates Stadium.

He told the Oxford Mail: “When I was younger at Arsenal I played there quite a bit.

“It’s a role I’m getting used to again, I want to be on the pitch and playing – that’s the main thing.

“I have my preferred positions but that’s football, I’ve just got to do whatever the gaffer wants me to do.