A CREATIVE use of Oxford United’s travelling budget means Michael Appleton’s squad are being given the ideal preparation for two tough away games next week.

The U’s travel to York City on Tuesday night, before facing Accrington Stanley on the Saturday.

The squad will stay in the north, after saving money elsewhere to pay for extra nights in a hotel between the matches.

And Appleton is hoping the time together will prove invaluable.

“We are going to do something a bit different,” he explained.

“We all have budgets to work to, but we made sure we had something left back so that during next week we can give the players every opportunity to prepare in the best way.

“I can assure you our budget (for overnight stays and travelling) is not that different to others in the league, but we have been creative with it.

“If we are able to save on different types of hotels and journeys throughout the season to give the kitty a bit extra then we’ll do it.”

United are keen to keep the players as fresh as possible and allow time to recover between games, something Appleton is confident will be a big positive.

“If we travelled back from York, the players wouldn’t get back until the early hours of Wednesday morning,” he said.

“A lot will get woken by their kids for the school run in the morning and then that doesn’t become a proper recovery day for them that they need.

“The opportunity to stay up north, stay together as a squad for a proper recovery day on the Wednesday and then train at some great places in Preston and Bolton on the Thursday and Friday is something we wanted to do.”

He added: “I love having the opportunity to spend some quality time away with all the players.

“It is difficult at the training ground because if you want to speak to a player, straight away the barriers come down and they wonder what they have done wrong.

“But this way means we can all have some down time together.”