Although Mark Harris is excited about the possibility of going back to the capital, he is adamant that his decision to leave Cardiff City was the right one, as evidenced by his international recall.
The 25-year-old dropped a tier to join Oxford United after leaving the Bluebirds on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.
by Taboola Official Website
Seniors in Nigeria Are Not Aware They Can Work From Home for US Companies
Wall Street Trending
He had a rocky start, but he has since blossomed at Kassam Stadium, scoring 19 goals across all competitions and being a major contributor to the U’s promotion to the Championship the previous year.
Harris has continued that red hot scoring form in this campaign, scoring in each of Oxford’s four Championship outings so far, a run that has caught the eye of new Wales boss Craig Bellamy, and helped bring the forward back into the international fold after nearly two years away.
It means he’s poised to return to the Cardiff City Stadium for the first time since making the decision to move on – and it’s a proposition he’s looking forward to.
“It will be great to be back at CCS and hopefully I can get a few minutes or even a start, who knows,” he said ahead of Friday night’s Nations League opener with Turkey. “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.”
Before he left, Harris did, in fact, have the opportunity to stay longer with the Bluebirds. However, he claims that after almost 100 games for the team, he thought it was time for a change of scenery.
“It was a tough decision to leave Cardiff and I found myself out of the squad when I went to Oxford,” he continued. “It’s fantastic to be back in the Welsh squad, to have played in the Championship after being promoted the previous season.
“At the end of the season, I received a contract offer from Cardiff. I simply believed that moving on and trying to get some game time elsewhere would be preferable for me at the time.
“At Cardiff, I wasn’t a regular starter. I want to go, establish myself, and start for a team as the number nine. After attending Oxford, I haven’t turned back. All I wanted to do was play games, rekindle my career, and demonstrate my abilities.
“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.”
Harris is clearly a man brimming with confidence. As well he should. Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has scored more league goals in the top four tiers of English football in 2024.
His incredible 35-yard strike against Blackburn Rovers certainly made Wales fans sit up and take notice, and perhaps demonstrated his stratospheric levels of self-belief right now. Levels that Cardiff fans probably never quite saw.
“Being the main man definitely helps with your confidence,” he added. “As soon as you play with a smile on your face your normally play your best football.
“When you don’t know if you’re playing, which position and you are in and out it makes it tougher. I moved to try to establish myself as a proper No. 9.”
Harris has certainly done that so far, and credits United boss Des Buckingham, who was ironically one of those considered for the Wales job before the FAW opted for Bellamy, as a big factor in his recent renaissance.
“Confidence is a big thing – I think I’ve played every game since he came in – but he has also gone back through games with me and given me tips on where I should have been,” he said of Buckingham. “Don’t drift too wide because being in front of goal is where you are going to get the goals.”
However, while he’s relishing life as a fully-fledged No. 9, his desperation to pull on the red of Wales again means he’s willing to slot in wherever he’s needed under Bellamy, whom he worked with while coming through the ranks at Cardiff.
“Whatever position Craig wants me to play, it’s for my country, so I will do exactly as he asks,” he said.
“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.
I was pleased to learn that he would be taking over as the next Wales coach since I knew we had a good working relationship. I’m forward to hear from him again this week and in the future.
“I am aware that he was an excellent player who filled a variety of positions with remarkable skill. In addition, he has been an excellent coach. As soon as he arrives at camp, it is evident that he is focused on everything.
He is quite meticulous. If they take one action and then another, you can see that he will have a solution, regardless of the opposition. Based on my observations, the level of detail is exceptional. Each manager will add their personal touch, and it will be
