PATRICK HOBAN HAS been forced to play the waiting game since his arrival at Oxford United but the striker is beginning to turn heads ahead of this afternoon’s FA Cup tie with Swansea City.
The 24-year-old has found opportunities difficult to come by since moving across the water from Dundalk in November 2014 but is finding his feet with each passing appearance.
Hoban endured a frustrating debut season at Oxford as an injury shortly after he joined hampered his progress as he went onto score just once in 15 outings.
It’s been largely the same story this time around but when he’s been given the opportunity, largely from the bench, the Galway native has grasped it with both hands.
Five goals in all competitions this campaign is an indication of his growing confidence in his new surroundings, although cameo appearances haven’t been enough to convince the manager he deserves a chance from the start.
“It’s been frustrating,” he tells The42. “I feel like I have contributed well in games where I’ve come on and have helped change the game for the side. I’ve been doing well and the goals have been going in.
“I’m working really hard, I’m the fittest I’ve ever been and I’m a lot sharper now then I was even before Christmas. I feel like I’m very close to the first team.”
Hoban has featured regularly for the club’s development side and has been in prolific form at that level as he looks to force his way into the reckoning under manager Michael Appleton.
Shortly after the former Dundalk forward arrived at Oxford, Appleton described him as a ‘caged animal.’ At the time, it was a reference to his industrious and hard-working attitude both on and off the pitch but it now seems apt given he’s yet to be fully unleashed.
Sunday, and a showpiece third round cup tie, could provide that platform and the opportunity for Hoban to prove his worth and push his case for inclusion.
He scored twice in the first round victory over Braintree in November and played the full 90 minutes in the narrow 1-0 win over Forest Green in the last round.
“We have to approach it like any other game,” he explains. “We know we’re playing against quality Premier League opposition but that doesn’t put any pressure on us.
“We are playing good football at the minute and it will be a learning curve for us as a team and as players. Hopefully I’m involved as I have ambitions myself to get as high as I can and playing against Swansea would allow me to see where I stand as a player.
“It’s one of the biggest games of my career based on the opposition and competition. Everyone watches the FA Cup back home and I’ve always wanted I can prove I can play here.
“If I do well then that can provide the springboard for the rest of the season.”
After helping Dundalk lift the SSE Airtricity League title in 2014, several clubs were interested in Hoban’s services. He turned down the chance to showcase his wares to Kilmarnock and instead opted for a move to south-east England.
He left Ireland as the country’s top-scorer and infused with the hope he could manufacture a career for himself second time around after a short stint with Bristol City.
Things haven’t gone as smoothly as he would have liked and despite watching his former team-mates enjoy unprecedented success back home, Hoban has no regrets about leaving for greater opportunities elsewhere.
“I’m not going to lie, I suffered a setback when I came over,” he added. “It’s more competitive over here but I’ve worked incredibly hard to get back to full fitness and I’m comfortable where I am.
“I’m obviously not comfortable with sitting on the bench because I came over to play football but there are so many opportunities over here and I am extremely ambitious.
“Oxford are a big club and I saw that as soon as I came over and I want to be part of what they’re doing. It’s up to me to earn that right.”
This afternoon wouldn’t be a bad time to unleash ‘the caged animal’ his manager once described him as.
