Boss explains absence of Leeds United forward with demand and future plan

Nineteen-year-old striker Perkins joined third tier Oxford on a season-long loan in August but the teenager has been handed just three minutes of action and has failed to make Manning’s last seven matchday squads. Manning, though, insists that Perkins will still play a part and that the Whites loanee is improving in training amid a demand to be an “eight or nine out of ten” in order to force his way into the side who sit second in League One.

“Sonny came in late, which doesn’t help because the team had already found some momentum, were winning games and performing well,” said Manning, as quoted by the Oxford Mail.

"Naturally, certain people tend to carry a bit of credit for what they’ve already done, so then it shifts back to being patient and trying to force my hand from how you train.

“If somebody’s in credit and you want to force my hand, you have to be an eight or nine every day in training, which Sonny is progressing in those areas. He’s improving in training but we still want more from him. He’s still going to play a part, it’s just a case of when.

“He’s just got to make sure he keeps his head down and keeps working. We support him and brought him in because we know some of the qualities he’s got. It’s about now making sure that he hits the level in training every day, so when someone’s level drops or there’s an injury, he’s ready to step in and grab the opportunity.”