Football
Oxford United Forward On The Brink Of Creating EFL Championship History Ahead Of Stoke City Showdown
Ben Horlock is a sports news and features writer who holds a degree in sports journalism (BA Hons) from Southampton Solent University. Ben has been published across a wide variety of news outlets and websites including HITC, 90min, GiveMeSport, Betfair and Zoo Magazine. As well, Ben has worked in social media for four years in the sports gambling industry. For his sins, Ben is a QPR fan and is a keen follower of all the major European football leagues.
Get to know Ben Horlock betterPublished12 Sep 2024
Mark Harris could break an EFL Championship record on September 14 against Stoke City at the Kassam Stadium.
The Oxford United forward has been in red-hot form in England’s second tier so far this season. In his four league appearances in 2024/25, Harris has netted a goal in every game.
If Harris finds the back of the net on Saturday afternoon, he will become the first player in Championship history to score in each of his team’s first five league games of a season.
The U’s and Harris have made the step up from League One with incredible ease so far. Last season’s play-off winners have won two and lost two in their four league games.
Considering many tipped Des Buckingham’s side for a bumpy ride, their current position in the top half of the table is a huge testament to their hard work.
Unsurprisingly, Harris’ form has not gone unnoticed. His four goals have come from just seven shots which gives the Welshman a goal conversion rate of 57%. Nobody has higher in the division.
If he scores this weekend, Mark Harris will become the first player in Championship history to score in each of his team’s first 5⃣ games of a season.
Only Erling Haaland has scored more goals than him in 2024 across England’s top four divisions.#OUFC pic.twitter.com/xA4JGsMbIT
— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) September 12, 2024
Mark Harris Named EFL Championship Player Of The Month
Naturally, Mark Harris’ early season exploits for Oxford United saw him named the EFL Championship Player of the Month for August.
Harris held off fierce competition from Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien, West Brom forward Josh Maja and Millwall star Duncan Watmore.
“It’s a really nice award. We have started the season off well as a team and as an individual, I have done the same,” Harris explained.
“Awards like this are always great, but it’s all about the team. I am going into every game full of confidence with the team playing well and hopefully, I can keep putting the goals away.”
No matter what happens against Stoke, Harris can rest easy knowing that only Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland is the only player who has netted more goals in England’s top four leagues than himself in 2024.