Home Football Mark Harris keeping goal target close to his chest for time being

Mark Harris keeping goal target close to his chest for time being

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Mark Harris keeping goal target close to his chest for time being

The 25-year-old striker was vocal on his 20-goal target for the 2023/24 campaign, an objective he ultimately fell just one short of achieving when he finished the season with 19 strikes to his name.

Harris has made a rapid start to life in Sky Bet Championship with Oxford United, with two goals in two games.

The Welshman grabbed United’s first goal back in the second tier for more than 25 years when he opened the scoring against Norwich City, nudging Grant Hanley off the ball before getting the better of Angus Gunn in the Canaries goal.

Harris then found a second U’s equaliser at Coventry City, scrapping the ball over the line from Ruben Rodrigues’ diving header.

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“The goal on Friday, there was a bit of a luck, but I’ll take them all. As long as I’m helping the team, I’m happy,” said Harris.

“I set targets at the start of every season really, but I’m keeping it to myself at the start.

“We’ll see how I get on, but it’s been a good start, let’s just say that.”

United meanwhile are likely to still be in the market for another centre forward, with Harris currently facing competition from just Tottenham Hotspur loanee Dane Scarlett and Gatlin O’Donkor, while Will Goodwin is currently sidelined with an ankle injury.

The summer transfer window closes a week today, and Harris admits he keeps an eye on the rumoured ins and outs.

He said: “You always look. Bringing players in, even if it’s in your position, you know you’ve got to keep performing and keep your levels high, and that just pushes you then.

“We’ve got a week or so left, and hopefully we can get a few more bodies that will help us, and hopefully we get it all sorted as soon as.”

On the addition of Scarlett, Harris said: “He’s come in, and fair play, he’s been sharp in training. He looks a good addition to our squad.

“He got a few minutes against Coventry, and I’m sure he’ll get a few more over the next few weeks. He looks a really good addition to our squad.”

He added: “I think we’re in a good place. We started the season off strong and got that win against a tough side, and it was another tough game against Coventry away.

“We were quite unlucky to not come away with a point, and that would’ve been a very good point away against a side that I think will be up there towards the end of the season.

“All in all, I think we’ve had a good start, and we’ve just got to carry that on now.”