With a testing trip north to eighth placed Morecambe at the weekend, we found out from midfielder Peter Leven what he expects from him and his team-mates after their two week respite. Oxford are without a win in five games but the Scot is confident the time away has been beneficial and the team are in high spirits:

"We've had the weekend off but we've worked hard before that and we've worked hard this week. We haven't won in the last five games so it's good to get away from football and come back refreshed."

Leven used the break in fixtures to visit family back home in Scotland where the weather has taken a turn for the worse. Conditions may be just as unwelcoming in Morecambe but the Scot is hopeful the road trip north can reboot their season with the spoils of victory.

"I just missed the snow on Sunday and there's supposed to be gale force winds so Morecambe will be just as harsh.

"It's a tough league but it's all about us. We've just got to prepare ourselves to win the game and if we can't win the game we draw."

The U's have been out of action since their defeat in the league to Cheltenham in November but the time off has allowed Chris Wilder and company to fine tune his squad ahead of Saturday's game.

"We've worked hard on and off the pitch to make things right. We're working hard off the field on tactics and it's been good."

Oxford have a busy schedule for the month of December and Leven is determined a result this weekend can get their season back on course going into the New Year.

"Our season starts Saturday with three points to make the Play-Off and that's where we want to be.

"We started well but we've had a blip. It's only three games in the league so hopefully we can bounce back on Saturday."

See this interview now on Yellow Player