ANDY Whing hailed Shandon Baptiste’s mentality after the former Oxford United midfielder scored his first Premier League goal.

The 23-year-old’s strike in Brentford’s 2-2 draw at Leeds United yesterday was also his first for the west London club.

Injuries have limited Baptiste to just 26 Bees appearances since arriving from United in January 2020, having suffered several similar setbacks during his time in Oxfordshire.

The youngster twice dislocated his shoulder as a scholar between 2015 and 2017, but was offered a six-month professional contract and seized his chance.

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Whing was joint manager of the club’s youth team with Leon Blackmore-Such at the time and the former U’s midfielder, now Banbury United boss, is thrilled to see Baptiste doing so well.

He said: “I think the club were fantastic with him at the time, a lot of work went on behind the scenes.

“I remember sitting down with Michael Appleton and saying ‘we’ve got to give him a contract’.

“He came back from pre-season absolutely flying and hasn’t looked back since.

“He’ll keep his feet on the ground and hopefully score more goals in the Premier League.

“To have the mentality to come back (from the injuries) just shows the type of character he is. A lot of young lads should look up to him.”

Baptiste’s first Brentford goal saw him join an exclusive club.

Seven other former United youth players are thought to have scored in the top flight since 1992 – and that includes Garath McCleary, who spent three months on trial in 2005 but was not offered a contract.

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The winger, from Blackbird Leys, found the net four times for Reading in the Premier League in 2012/13.

That season also saw Dean Whitehead score for the last time in the Premier League, earning Stoke City a 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion in December 2012.

The former U’s midfielder, who grew up in Abingdon, hit seven top-flight goals during spells with the Potters and Sunderland.

 

Next on the list is Sam Ricketts, who made his U’s debut 12 months after Whitehead in 2000.

The defender played for Hull City and Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League, with his only goal in the top division coming for the latter against Wolves on New Year’s Eve 2011.

Dexter Blackstock did not make a senior appearance for United before his move to Southampton in 2003, but scored for the south coast club against arch-rivals Portsmouth in the top division the following year.

Going further back, former U's winger Chris Allen was another who scored a single goal in the top flight.

That came at Middlesbrough in March 1996 - one minute before Witney-born Robbie Mustoe equalised for the hosts.

The midfielder struck 24 goals for Boro, the last of which came at Derby County on April 1, 2002.

The list is completed by United’s only home-grown player to represent England.

Dorchester-born Mark Wright played just 12 games for the U’s in the early 1980s before joining Southampton, but went on to win 45 caps for his country and scored against Egypt at the 1990 World Cup.

The centre back’s final club was Liverpool, where he scored five Premier League goals between 1992 and 1996.