CALLUM O’Dowda is determined to make his mark on Sunday before he misses at least two Oxford United games on international duty.

The winger has been named among the substitutes for the past three games, but is likely to come into the starting line-up for the Emirates FA Cup first round tie at Braintree Town.

A call-up to Republic of Ireland Under 21s means O’Dowda will then be unavailable for games against Dagenham & Redbridge and Cambridge United, plus a replay if this weekend’s game in Essex finishes all square.

The 20-year-old is staying level-headed about his lack of starts for United in recent weeks, but wants to make the most of an appearance on Sunday.

“I would like to do that and put in a good performance, so when I come back to Oxford it’s in the manager’s head coming into the next game I’m available for,” he said.

“You want to start every game, but you’ve got to think what’s best for the team.

“The staff know and talk to me, so it’s not like I don’t know why I’m not starting.

“You flip it round mentally and think ‘I’m not starting, what have I got to do now?’”