OXFORD United’s in-form star Mark Harris speaks about the club resurging his career both domestically and internationally.
United’s goal machine has had a remarkable start to the season, but it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the Welshman.
Harris has already equalled his personal record for goals in a Championship campaign, after tallying 15 in League One last season.
He said: “I had a good run of form at the back end of last season and obviously winning the play-offs at Wembley makes you feel good when you head into a new season, so I was just looking forward to getting off to a good start.
“I know I hadn’t had the best of goalscoring records at Cardiff, so since coming to Oxford I’ve relished the opportunity of playing as a striker every week.”
READ ALSO: Mark Harris on Wales call-up and learning from Craig Bellamy
After his remarkable start to the season, the 25-year-old has his eyes on goalscoring targets, saying: “I’ve been asked by a few journalists about goals for the season and I have kept them close to my chest, I don’t like giving them away.
“After scoring a goal a game so far, I have given them a rethink, but I’m a striker, I want to just keep scoring goals.
“I want to play as a nine and being in and out of a team and playing as a nine, winger, sometimes a 10, made it difficult but when you’re younger you’re just still looking to learn as much as you can as a player and I was just happy to be playing.
“Liam [Manning] got me playing in a certain way. Obviously he was the boss when I moved here, coming in I said I wanted to play as a nine, that’s my preferred role, and he was great working with me and Des [Buckingham] has carried that on and we’ve had a great start.”
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Harris could make his sixth appearance for Wales tonight, after a brilliant return to Championship life, netting four times in as many league games this season.
The U’s striker alluded to the difficulty in dropping down a division, in order to better his career.
He said: “It was strange leaving a club I joined when I was five years old [Cardiff City]. After a few difficult years in and out the side, it wasn’t an easy decision to move away from home but after speaking to Liam, I was excited for what the future could hold.”
Harris’ call-up to the national side is his first since the 2022 Qatar World Cup, although he didn’t appear in the competition.
Awaiting his sixth cap against Turkey tonight, or Montenegro next week, he spoke about how leaving Cardiff could effect his career internationally.
“Of course, it was a setback at first. I knew I probably wouldn’t be called up from League One, but I think for me it was about finding that ability I knew I had,” he said.
“Last season was great and obviously getting promoted, then the start I’ve had this season back in the Championship has been nice to get recognised for that.”
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