Premier League icon tips Oxford United striker for 25-goal haul

Harris has enjoyed a fruitful start to the new League One season with Oxford, scoring four times and assisting once in the team’s first seven games.

Under fellow countryman Aaron Ramsey, the Wales international has started every competitive match so far this campaign.

The 27-year-old bagged the first goal in the U’s most recent result, a 2-1 win over Notts County at Meadow Lane which saw United rise to eighth in the table with games in hand on many of their third-tier rivals.

Harris has outperformed his expected goals (xG) tally so far this season, scoring four goals from an expected 2.3, with a conversion rate of 50 per cent.

Oxford United striker Mark Harris (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Speaking exclusively to the Oxford Mail, former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Oxford striker Dean Saunders offered his advice and tipped Harris for a productive year.

The 62-year-old said: “it’s a real shame the goals didn’t come in the Championship. But, he started really well.

“He’s a very well-rounded, very skilled off-the-ball striker as well. So, I think for players like that, it’s going to fall at some point.

“Don’t get disappointed when you’re closing down and you’re not getting any thanks for it. Because that keeps you in the team when you’re not scoring.”

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Former Oxford United striker Dean Saunders playing at Oxford City (Image: Oxford City FC)

Saunders added, on behalf of BetSelect: “When you’re not playing well as centre-forward, you’ve just got an instinct for getting on the end of the crosses, getting on through balls and seeing the opportunity, which Mark does. They win your games.

“I couldn’t sleep if I didn’t score. Even if we won and I hadn’t scored, I’d still struggle to sleep. It’s my job.”

After a duo of tricky seasons in the Championship in a struggling U’s side, Harris is finding his goal scoring boots once again in League One.

The former Cardiff City man managed nine goals in his two second-tier campaigns with the Yellows but has already overtaken his tally from last season (3) with his goals early on this term.

In his most recent third-tier campaign prior to the Championship journey, Harris bagged 19 goals in all competitions and looks well on his way to matching that form again.

Oxford United striker Mark Harris (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Saunders continued: “To have Mark Harris in your team, any manager would put up with him not scoring. Because of the way he defends from the front and the way he puts himself about.

“If you’re lazy and you’re not scoring, you end up on the bench and you can’t score from the dugout. While you’re on the pitch, you can get lucky goals. You can get penalties.

“And, then you get a bit of belief back. And, then you get on a run of scoring.

“I’m sure when Mark gets going, he’s one of them who can get 25 goals.”