Jamie Guy should get a big confidence boost from getting back on the goalscoring trail again, says Oxford United’s caretaker manager Jim Smith.

Guy’s well-taken second-half strike at Mansfield on Thursday night helped the U’s break a barren run on their travels with a 3-1 victory, which lifted them into the top half of the Blue Square Premier table.

And the 21-year-old showed a bit more of the barnstorming form he displayed in pre-season before a hamstring injury knocked him back.

There was clear relief, as well as joy, in Guy’s celebration at Field Mill. He has missed plenty of chances this season, and squandered a very similar one-on-one opportunity against the keeper at Grays last month.

“Strikers thrive on goals, and goalscorers get disappointed when they’re missing goals,” Smith said after the Mansfield match.

“I thought Jamie’s work-rate and everything was good, and I genuinely think he can be better.

“He was giving too many balls away for a player of his ability, but scoring a goal will give him a great boost.”

Guy is on a season-long loan from Colchester United, and this was only his second league goal – his first coming in the 3-1 victory at home to Cambridge United.

He also hit the target in the 2-0 FA Cup fourth qualifying round win over Hayes & Yeading, so his strike at Mansfield was also his first away goal this season.

But, having been signed by former boss Darren Patterson, and with his form in the first part of the season disappointing, Guy admitted he didn’t know whether he would be kept in January.

“It all depends on the new manager,” Guy said.

“If he doesn't fancy me then I will probably be going back. But if he wants me I am happy to stay.”

Thursday’s game showed how goals change games, and one couldn’t help but wonder what must have been going through Patterson’s mind when, in recent weeks, he has seen similar good chances missed Smith acknowledged: “Getting the first goal is so important.

“Yes, they came back. But if you then get a second goal it knocks them back a bit, for obvious reasons, and gives you such a lift, and we played well and got a fully deserved three points.”