In April 2009, as United took on Histon in the Blue Square Premier, Jack Midson scored one of the finest goals seen in the years since the Yellows moved to their current home. Spotting Billy Turley off his line after setting off on a run down the left wing, Midson proceeded to deftly chip the ball over the keeper from some twenty five yards, giving his side the lead and stunning the United faithful.

Less than three months later Midson had become an Oxford player, joining on a two-year contract and scoring for fun during the pre-season calendar. However, the season proper hasn't been quite as successful for the striker. Despite notching five goals in all competitions the former tennis coach has been in and out of the side, struggling to hold down a regular place after returning from a toe injury in the early part of the season.

However, two goals for the reserves yesterday at Brentford will certainly have helped:

"It's been a mixed bag for me really. Obviously I've enjoyed my time here and I've really enjoyed being in a full time training environment, but I'd probably have liked to play a little bit more than I have done. At the same time it's completely understandable why I'm not. The squad is a competitive one and we've got quality in every position, but I'm enjoying being a part of it thus far."

Having previously combined his job as a Tennis coach with playing part-time for Histon, it's fair to say that turning full-time as a footballer was a decision that took some consideration. Thus far, it's a conundrum that Jack feels he answered correctly.

"In principle going full time was a no-brainer, but I had to weigh it up financially. I was working and playing football at the same time, and in this league at that, but if there was just one club that I would have taken that risk with then it's Oxford. I think it's been difficult to adapt at times and to a certain extent I'd say that it still can be. It's no secret that we train in a very intense manner and everything is very much like playing in a proper game. I've only been a fully professional footballer for six months or so and it can really take its toll on your body, but I think that I've dealt with it quite well and hopefully I can keep upping my standards."

Given his previous occupation, is the odd set often on the agenda?

"I find as much time for Tennis as I can, but it's been hard with having to train so much and also recently with the weather. I'm living with Damian Batt at the moment and we had a few games after I joined in the summer, but they've been few and far between recently. Hopefully I can get the odd game in the coming months."

With his wonder goal on United soil being just one of more than twenty that he notched last season you'd think that struggling to consistently hold down a first team place would be a particularly hard pill to swallow, but in a manner typical to the current squad Jack's reaction is nothing less than first class.

"It's quite tough to take sometimes, but that's something that I have to get on with. I have to take it on the chin, but hopefully it'll make me a better player in the sense that I'll learn about all aspects of being in a squad without necessarily playing every match. I know it's something that I say a lot but this really is a good squad, and particularly in attack we have a lot of really good options.

"My natural position is to go down the middle, but if I have to play a little wider to make sure that I start games then I'm happy to do that. It's not natural to me by any means, but I'm sure that with the coaches who are here and the ability they have that they can help me improve on adapting my game more and more as time goes on."

Interview by Ryan Bird