Out-on-loan Leeds United man Sonny Perkins has had an extremely tough start to life at Oxford United.
However, Tuesday may have just handed him the platform he needs to really kick start his time there as he netted his first goal for the club in an EFL Trophy win over Chelsea U21s.
Perkins played 66 minutes in what was his first start since the middle of September, and he wasted no time in making an impact as he scored the opening goal of the game inside 15 minutes.
The 19-year-old has not been getting any chances in League One and has actually been left out of the last eight matchday squads, and so the EFL Trophy has been the only competition he has been able to show what he can do.
He did come off the bench in the FA Cup win over Maidenhead United on Saturday, but again it was a very brief cameo in which he had no time at all to make an impact.
Perkins nets first goal of Oxford spell
Perkins had been highly rated at Leeds and so it is a surprise to see how his loan spell at Oxford has gone so far, but hopefully this can really kick start it.
What’s more, Oxford are now also in the market for a new manager with Liam Manning having departed the club to join Bristol City and replace Nigel Pearson.
Manning clearly did not fancy Perkins but a new manager could give him the fresh start he needs to really impress whoever comes in on the training pitch, and push into the league side.
Perkins will now be eager to get a proper chance to show what he can do against senior opposition, with his goal last night having come against an U21s side.
If his situation does not improve by the time the January window opens, it would not be a surprise if Leeds recall him and send him elsewhere instead.
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