SAMIR Carruthers’ attitude offers a great example to Oxford United’s young players, according to Chris Allen.

The under 23 coach was hugely impressed with the midfielder’s performance when he was drafted in for their Premier League Cup clash in midweek.

It offered the Sheffield United loanee a chance to build up his sharpness in a competitive game as he returns to full fitness after a knee injury.

And Carruthers was involved in two goals as the U’s beat Hull City 3-0 at Thame United.

Allen said: “I keep telling the young ones to look up to players in the Premier League and Championship, but we have one on our doorstep in Samir.

“If you’re a young player, then just looking at his energy, determination and desire to make tackles and his quality on the ball was there for all to see.”

Head coach Karl Robinson was in the crowd and will also have taken note of the display as he weighs up his options for Saturday’s Sky Bet League One game with Peterborough United.