A PRODUCT of the famous youth set-up at Le Havre, Jeremy Balmy is now aiming to come of age after signing for Oxford United.

The 20-year-old signed a deal until the end of the season on Monday after being released by Notts County in December.

Balmy made just three appearances in 18 months at Meadow Lane, but could be considered by United for the visit to Burton Albion this weekend.

By his own admission the midfielder knows he needs to gain muscle, but says it was precisely that which saw him cross the English Channel after eight years at Le Havre.

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He said: “My problem is I’m not strong and when I was at Le Havre they didn’t tell me to get stronger.

“I stayed with my qualities and I wanted to work on my problems.

“I need to be stronger, maybe a little bit faster if I want to be the best.”

He added: “I had some bad moments (at Notts County) and some good moments, but this is football. Now I’m here and I’m happy with that.”

Able to play in a variety of roles, the Frenchman was given a good grounding.

Le Havre is renowned in France for its youth set-up, whose graduates include Lassana Diarra, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Paul Pogba.

The latter, a star at Juventus after a spell at Manchester United, was a teammate of Balmy’s.

United’s newest signing said: “Pogba is a year older than me, but I played with him.

“Sometimes I was on the bench for that team, but he’s a good player.”

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