Lewis Bate says he aims to break into the first team at Leeds United, although he admits that he may need another loan before achieving his goal.
Bate made four senior appearances for the Whites last term, including as a half-time substitute in a 2-1 defeat against Arsenal in May.
The Gunners travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United in the FA Cup third round on Monday. Bate has flourished since joining Oxford on loan from Leeds in the summer - registering four assists in 21 matches across all competitions.
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The 20-year-old insists he will come back to Elland Road 'stronger and fitter', and has set his sights on becoming a regular for the first team over the coming seasons.
“He called me in for a meeting and said ‘to stay and not get a lot of game time and play Under-23s football is not going to benefit you. Go out on loan and gain the experience of the men’s game and then come back’. That was the conversation and I completely agreed,” Bate revealed in an interview with the Telegraph.
“To make the next step I needed the experience in a physical environment - but where I could also show qualities that I have on the ball that have ultimately got me this far. I needed that experience of competing but also playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday to see how I could cope.
“Ultimately my goal is to break in at Leeds and if that’s not next season then hopefully it will be the season after. To walk back into a Premier League side with ambition after one season in League One probably won’t be enough for them. But we’ll see because I will go back stronger and fitter and in better form than I ever have. The chances are I will need another loan but football can change in a day.”
Bate has described Arsenal as the 'best team in England' at the moment, but insists that the U's are not afraid of the challenge ahead of them.
“They [Arsenal] are the best team in England at the moment. To perform against them is a good measure as to where you are but also to play in these types of games is massive for experience.
"But we are not afraid to play. A few of the boys have caused some upsets in the cups over the years so we are looking forward to trying to achieve another.”
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