By Graham Thomas
Mark Harris is looking forward to being back at the Cardiff City Stadium – but has no regrets at moving away.
The former Cardiff striker could figure for Wales against Turkey on Friday night in Craig Bellamy’s first match in charge.
A starting appearance, or a role from off the bench, would mean a first outing at the stadium since Harris left the Bluebirds for Oxford United just over a year ago.
Harris, 25, played 87 league games for Cardiff across six seasons, but was never able to fully convince a succession of managers he should be a regular, consistent starter.
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The lack of faith may have contributed to a modest return of nine goals.
In the end, he cut his losses and moved on a free transfer to Oxford at the end of his last contract in the capital.
Others doubted the drop down from the Championship to League One, but Harris was convinced it would be the path to re-igniting his career.
“I did get offered a contract at the end of the season that I left Cardiff,” says the striker, who also went out on loan for a spell with Newport County.
“I just thought at the time it was better for me to move on and try and get some game time elsewhere.
“I wasn’t a main starter at Cardiff. I wanted to go somewhere else, prove myself and become the starting No.9 for a team.
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Harris – whose energy and pace was admired by both former Wales manager Rob Page as well as current boss Bellamy – was an immediate success at Oxford.
He scored 19 goals in 55 matches in all competitions last season, helping Oxford to win promotion to the Championship through the play-offs.
This season, he has started life in the Championship in similar vein, with four goals in five league matches.
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Whilst Cardiff are bottom of the early season table, Oxford, under manager Des Buckingham, are sitting handily in ninth.
“I went to Oxford and I haven’t looked back,” adds Harris.
“I just wanted to reignite my career, play games and show what I can do. It was tough at Cardiff sometimes playing and sometimes not.
“I didn’t know what position I was going to be playing in and it just felt like the right time to move on.
“It was a great season for me last season. We got promotion and that was always my aim in going there. We did it the hard way through the play-offs, but that’s the best way of doing it.
“But It’s nice to be back after a year and a half. I always had the self-belief and self-confidence that I would be able to get back into the Welsh squad and I’m buzzing.”
Now, Harris is looking forward to convincing Bellamy he should be an integral part of the new Nations League campaign and remain on board for the World Cup qualifiers to come.
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Harris – who was left out of the Wales squad by Page following the World Cup in 2022 – was a youngster when Bellamy was coaching at Cardiff and is keen to revive their working relationship.
“Whatever position Craig wants me to play, it’s for my country, so I will do exactly as he asks.
“I worked with Craig when I was in the Cardiff U18s. I don’t think he was the actually coach for that age group, but he came in and helped out whenever he could.
“I learned quite a bit from him. He was really good for me in the time he spent with me.
“When I saw he was going to be the new Wales coach I was happy because I knew I’d worked well with him before. Now I’m looking forward to learning more from him this week and beyond.
“He’s very detailed. Whatever opposition it will be you can see he will have a solution if they do one thing and then another.
“From what I’ve seen the detail is second to none. Every manager will put their own mark on things and it will be a different Wales.
“It will be great to be back at Cardiff City Stadium and hopefully I can get a few minutes or even a start, who knows.
“My confidence is pretty high after a good start to the season with Oxford. We’ve had two good home wins and been a bit unlucky with our two defeats away. I am just enjoying my football at the moment.
“It’s been about repaying the faith the managers at Oxford have shown in me. Liam Manning played me a lot last season and now Des Buckingham has also put his faith in me.
“I spoke to my family and it felt the right time to move on. If it didn’t go well, it didn’t go well. Thankfully it did and I feel a lot better player now through being given the chance to play and to show what I can do.
“I got given the No 9 shirt, which was nice, and it was all about showing what I can do and trying to get back into the Wales squad. I’m very much a No9 at Oxford and that’s my best position.
“I hope I get a chance to prove myself for Wales, although there are a lot of good players and a lot of competition.”
Oxford United, Mark Harris and Des Buckingham are proving to be more than just a relegation destined side this season, here are three factors behind the U's sold start ⬇️https://t.co/cCMHsY4D85 pic.twitter.com/rB9lcxbbMf
— James McLeish (@jmcleishmedia) September 3, 2024
