Mark Harris targets more than 15 goals for Oxford United

Harris has scored four goals in the U’s first eight games with Aaron Ramsey’s team sitting eighth in the division.

The Wales international’s last goal came in Oxford’s 2-1 win at Notts County nine days ago, opening the scoring after a mistake from the goal keeper.

Having started all of the Yellows’ league matches so far this season, Harris is firmly Ramsey’s first-choice striker despite the impressive form of young centre forward Gatlin O’Donkor who has three goal from eight substitute appearances.

After two years in the Championship with United, the 27-year-old has opened up on his targets for the season ahead of the welcoming of Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night.

When asked what his goal target was this campaign, Harris replied: “To beat the promotion season.

“Four [goals] in eight [games]; not bad.

“One every other game, I would take. I should get my target by that.”

Oxford United striker Mark Harris (Image: Richard Parkes)

When Oxford won promotion to the Championship in 2023/24, the former Cardiff City and Wrexham man bagged 15 goals in the league – 19 in all competitions – which he is trying to beat this year.

The goals became harder to obtain during the two second-tier seasons, with the Swansea-born man scoring nine over the couple of campaigns.

When asked if League One lacked the same intensity as England’s second tier, Harris replied: “If less, only slightly, I would say.

“Different games bring different needs, let’s say, it’s still an intense league. You’ve got to fight for every ball, you’ve got to win every ball.

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Mark Harris drives forward (Image: Richard Parkes)

“It’s no walk in the park compared to the Championship, put it that way.”

Under his former Wales teammate Ramsey, Harris is enjoying his football and role as centre forward.

“Since he’s come in, it’s not just the defenders and the midfielders that defend, it’s every single one of us,” the striker continued.

“We lose the ball, we react and we get it back. If we don’t get it back, we all get back in.

“Even me, if I’m the highest person on the pitch, I’ve got to get back behind the ball. That’s what I try to do.

Mark Harris closes down Mansfield’s Liam Thompson (Image: Richard Parkes)

“But yeah, our main principles, however you want to put it, is if we lose that ball, we get it back. And if not, we’re all getting into shape, compact. Hard to break down.

“[Ramsey] doesn’t want to just be a nice team that can just pass because you need the defensive side and you need the reactions and your compactness.

“You need it all together to be a good side and he’s brought that in. Everyone’s bought into it.

“Everyone loves playing the way we’re playing at the minute. It’s been great so far.”