RYAN Taylor has added incentive to open his Oxford United goalscoring account tonight as the striker takes on boyhood team Sheffield Wednesday.

The 27-year-old regularly watched the Owls before joining hometown club Rotherham United’s youth team.

Having impressed after coming on as a half-time substitute in the 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town on Saturday, he is hoping to be involved this evening as United aim to follow up their stunning 4-0 win at Brentford in the Capital One Cup.

The fact the second round tie is against Wednesday makes the occasion a special one for United’s No 20, who is hoping Hillsborough will inspire him to get off the mark.

“Definitely, I supported them as a young lad and if I get a goal I’d be very happy, but the first thing is to get the win as a team,” he said.

“I’m not as much of a fan as I used to be, but it would be nice to get out there on the Hillsborough pitch.

“I went to watch them in the glory days when they were in the Premier League with (Benito) Carbone and (Paolo) Di Canio.

“I’ll have a few of the family there and I’m definitely wanting to be involved at some point.”

U’s boss Michael Appleton has called the tie a free game for his side, who are not expected to be in tonight’s draw for the third round.

But left back Joe Skarz rejected the suggestion that the players could go into the game with nothing to worry about.

He said: “Even at Brentford there was pressure on us, because we know within our group we’re capable of beating teams like that.

“There’s always pressure from yourself to perform at the highest level you can and from the people sat on the sidelines who want to take your shirt.”

Taylor already has good memories of playing at Hillsborough, after being part of a Rotherham side which won a first round League Cup tie on a penalty shoot-out.

He led from the front as United pressed Brentford from the first whistle a fortnight ago, with the underdogs going 3-0 up in 12 minutes.

Taylor said: “You just go into it with the same mentality, pressing them from the start and getting in their faces.

“We’ll see if they want it 20 minutes into the game.

“If we can get off to a start like that then brilliant, but if not we’ll build on the start and see where it takes us.”

  •  ALL Capital One Cup second-round matches will hold a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to those who died in the Shoreham air disaster.