Oxford United’s Chris Maguire has told the Oxford Mail that he is very happy to be compared to Kemar Roofe.
It looked like the U’s were going to have to be happy with just a point against Bradford City this weekend after it entered the closing stages of the match goalless. However with just a few minutes on the clock, Maguire stepped up to curl a 23-yard free kick into the net and give Oxford a crucial win which saw them move to the top of the Sky Bet League One table into 10th place.
This has led Oxford’s head coach Michael Appleton to compare Maguire to Roofe, a player who became an icon for the team last season after scoring the goals which helped Oxford get promoted into League One. One of the most devastating, but expected, blows of the summer was losing Roofe to Leeds United and the fans are ecstatic to see a player looking close to replicating his form.
And Maguire is very happy with the comparisons, as when he was asked if he had a problem with them he said: “Not at all, I’m a confident player,”
“I think people know I have a bit of confidence or cockiness, but I think I do it in the right manner.”
“If people want to look at me like that it won’t add any pressure because I expect it from myself anyway.”
And when asked about the free kick itself, he added: “The keeper is six-foot plus, he’s a giant.”
“No disrespect, but people that size take about a week to get down.”
“I went his side because I thought he might take a step and with him being so big he might not move his feet.”
“Everybody is saying it got a nick – I don’t think I’m getting the credit!”
“I’m sure when people see it later on they will realise it went straight in.”
