Marcus McGuane has spoken about the “strange” career path which led him to Nottingham Forest earlier this year, and now a loan spell at Oxford United.
The midfielder signed for the Reds in February, initially linking up with the Under-23s squad before training with the first-team when the Championship restarted in June.
He had come up through the ranks at Arsenal as a youngster, before moving to Spain in 2018, joining Spanish giants Barcelona’s B team.
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But having struggled to make a breakthrough, he headed on loan to Dutch side Telstar last season, prior to his switch Trentside.
And McGuane is now eager to make the most of his season with the U’s, as he looks to impress in League One.
“Everyone has taken me under their wing and given me the confidence to allow me to express myself,” he told the Oxford Mail.
“They know what I can do. I get on well with everyone and I feel really good here.
“People look at my route and my story, it’s quite a strange one.
“But it is what it is and things happen.
“I’m just happy to be here with a good group of boys and a brilliant manager.”
The 21-year-old is said to have been one of Oxford’s standout players in pre-season.
But he is refusing to take a spot in the starting line-up for granted ahead of the new campaign.
“You can’t think you deserve to play,” McGuane said. “Every day in training you have to show yourself.
“Every small detail you need to show you’re affecting the game and playing well.
“I don’t expect to play, I feel like I need to show the gaffer and players what I can do and hopefully it takes care of itself.”
