MAX Crocombe has set his sights on staying in the Oxford United side for the final two games of the season after claiming a first clean sheet last weekend. The goalkeeper was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, replacing Luke McCormick. In his second senior start for the U’s, the 19-year-old survived only a couple of nervy moments in a 1-0 victory.

Crocombe was thrilled to claim a clean sheet and hopes the performance convinced U’s boss Chris Wilder to stick with him for the final two games of the campaign.

He said: “The longer the wait goes on for a clean sheet the harder it gets, so to get one is great – you’ll always remember that first one, it’s brilliant.

“As always, you play and hopefully the gaffer is happy with you and you keep playing.

“I’m not going to go shouting my mouth off and saying I should be doing this or that.

“I was happy enough with how I played, but I know I can improve in a lot of areas, which is part of being young and learning the game.”

Wilder handed Crocombe his first-team debut in a 1-1 draw at home to Burton Albion in January. Since then, the highly-rated teenager has helped New Zealand qualify for the Under 20 World Cup this summer, keeping clean sheets in both appearances at the qualifying tournament in Fiji.

The youngster is out of contract this summer, but chairman Ian Lenagan has stated he intends to activate a clause which will extend the deal for another 12 months.

Wilder would not be drawn on whether Crocombe would keep his jersey for Saturday’s game against Rochdale at the Kassam Stadium, but was encouraged by the performance against the Daggers.

He said: “Max will get better and more confident as he goes on.

“He’s got to sort his kicking out. He was in a little bit in too much of a hurry to get it away, but he’s a positive boy and has done really well – we’re all delighted for him.”