STAN Mills is hoping to get back out on the pitch by the autumn after suffering a nasty injury while on loan at Oxford United.

The 20-year-old winger signed for United from Everton in the summer, and established himself as a key player for the club.

He scored just the one goal, a sumptuous effort in the 3-0 win at Fleetwood Town in September, and notched five assists across 27 appearances in all competitions, before he suffered a serious knee injury in the Emirates FA Cup defeat to Coventry City.

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Mills was in attendance, alongside his dad, the former England defender Danny, as the U’s won 4-0 at home to the Cod Army on Easter Monday.

He said: “The rehab is going well, so I’m cracking on with that. Roughly it’ll be September or October time if everything goes to plan.

“Touch wood that happens and I can get fit again. There are good times and bad times, as there are when you’re playing, but I’ve got my head round it now.

“I’m just cracking on and working hard at the gym.”

On United’s fortunes, he said: “It’s been a bit up and down hasn’t it? I still watch every game for the lads, and they’ve still got a great chance of getting in the play-offs.”