SHANDON Baptiste looks set to choose club over country this week after producing the best performance of his young career in Oxford United’s draw at Sunderland.

The midfielder was fearless in only his second Sky Bet League One start, in front of more than 32,000 fans at the Stadium of Light.

He played a key role in a 1-1 draw where Sunderland, who played for 71 minutes with ten men, were the happier side with a point.

It completed a stellar few days which have transformed Baptiste’s status in the squad, coming on the back of his first United goal at Newport County.

Karl Robinson now views him as indispensable while Jamie Hanson serves a three-game suspension in the league.

And the head coach is now desperate to keep hold of Baptiste, who was due to on international duty for Grenada’s Concacaf Nations League clash with Curacao.

It would have seen him miss tomorrow’s Checkatrade Trophy game with Fulham Under 21s and Sunday’s televised league meeting with Coventry City.

Robinson said: “I’ll be having a conversation with him, because we’re going to need him next Sunday.

“Do you want to play live on Sky, or do you want to play for Grenada?”

Baptiste appears happy to oblige, knowing this is the best chance he has had to establish himself at United.

He said: “The gaffer doesn’t want to let me go because I think I might be involved next Sunday.

“I don’t think I’ll be going over for my international game any more.

“It shows the gaffer has confidence in me and shows that I’m a part of the team now, so I don’t really mind it.

“At this moment in time the club is a bit more important than my country.

“I know I can get another call-up, but when people like Jamie Hanson and Samir Carruthers come back into the team I don’t know if I would get the same opportunity.

“I just want to keep playing games and hopefully I can keep doing well.”

United have been looking to recruit an extra midfielder, but Robinson hinted his mind may have been changed by Baptiste’s impressive week.

And the player said: “I think this has topped it – playing in front of 30,000 fans in a Premier League stadium, it doesn’t get better than that.

“I think now I’ve shown him (Robinson) I’m able to play against the best team in this league.

“Hopefully he keeps me in mind and I can keep playing games.”