SIMON Eastwood believes Matty Taylor’s goals could turn out to be the defining factor in Oxford United’s season.

The striker has netted six times in the last five games as Karl Robinson’s side have stormed back into the Sky Bet League One promotion race.

He has 16 in total, on course to become only the second player, with Kemar Roofe, in the past ten U’s seasons to hit 20 goals in a campaign.

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Taylor bagged a brace against Southend United in November and will be looking to add to his tally against the EFL’s leakiest defence tomorrow.

Eastwood rates the 29-year-old highly and thinks his output could be pivotal come May.

The goalkeeper said: “Matty reminds me of when I was at Blackburn with Jordan Rhodes – you don’t see him too much in the game, but he always comes up with a goal.

“All credit to him, he’s one of the best I’ve played with.

“You know when he gets a chance, nine times out of ten he’ll finish.

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“He’s a top lad and he loves Oxford.

“It was a great capture getting him so hopefully we can get to the end of the season, look back and thinking he might be the difference.”

Taylor’s partnership with James Henry, who has laid on four of the six goals in this spell, has been key and Robinson will do everything he can to keep that link.

He said: “Having Jamo in that narrow right position, he has a knack of finding Matty.

“When I’m making changes because of all the injuries I have, the one big constant which is making a difference for us is Jamo and Matty, so I didn’t want to disturb that partnership.”