Jordan Graham believes a loan move to Oxford United is the ideal opportunity to make the step up into senior football.

The 20-year-old, who U’s boss Michael Appleton has compared to star man Kemar Roofe, agreed an initial 28-day loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday.

His first-team experience so far consists of two substitute appearances on loan at Ipswich Town and one at Bradford City.

But after impressing United playing for Wolves’ under 21 side, Graham is set to go straight into the squad for tonight’s trip to York City.

And the confident forward has been impatient to get cracking ever since he headed down to Oxford.

“I’m very excited, even Sunday night in the hotel I wanted to skip forward 12 hours to just be here. I can’t wait,” he said.

“My gaffer at Wolves has said to me ‘you’re doing well, but you need to start playing men’s football week-in, week-out and show you can do it’.

“This is perfect for me and hopefully for Oxford, because if I’m doing well I will be helping them as a club.”

He added: “I’ve done enough under 21s and had my two loans where I’ve experienced what it’s like.

“I think now I’m more than ready and physically probably in the best shape I’ve been in, I’ve not had an injury for a long time, touch wood.

“So I think this is basically it – this is my chance to go out there and show what I can do week-in week-out.”

There is an intention, providing all goes well, for the loan to be extended beyond the 28 days.

It was the method used to bring Roofe into the squad in February and Appleton thinks it will not be the only thing the pair have in common.

Despite the lack of competitive football on Graham’s CV, the U’s head coach has high hopes for the new No 16.

He said: “The one thing we’re not gambling on is his talent.

“For those people who haven’t seen him I hope he can get somewhere near to his potential, because he does remind me a lot of what Kemar can bring.

“He goes past people for fun, as if they’re not there at times.

“He’s got to produce that at first team level rather than under 21s, but he’s another option that could be as good as we’ve got, or better.

“We’re hoping things pan out very similarly.

“I’ve got no doubt that if I think it’s the right time they can certainly both play in the same team and having both in an XI will certainly scare a few people.”

With only one day’s training under his belt, Graham is likely to be named among the substitutes for the game at Bootham Crescent tonight.

But with seven games scheduled during the initial loan, he is likely to get several opportunities to impress.