MARCUS Browne is ready to make an impact form the start of games for Oxford United, after battling back to fitness from a hamstring injury which has disrupted his season.

The 26-year-old began the campaign looking sharp, however a hamstring injury suffered in the 3-1 win at Barnsley on August 19 ruled him out until December.

He returned to action at the beginning of December, when the U’s won at home to Grimsby Town in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup.

However, after coming in the 68th minute, his return lasted just 12 minutes, before he was forced off with a recurrence of the hamstring problem.

Browne was a late substitute in the 2-0 win at Port Vale on March 16, and has since played roughly 20 minutes and half an hour from the bench against Shrewsbury Town and Fleetwood Town respectively.

Asked how close Browne is to starting a game, United head coach Des Buckingham responded: “You could argue that could and should be this weekend. You also need to look at the players in the places that he may take.

“When I look across the front line and the front three, you’ve got Josh Murphy scoring and assisting, Sparky [Mark Harris] who hit two on Monday, and Owen Dale who opened his account for the club.

“We’ve got three front players who are all performing, and while that’s happening, it can become more difficult.

“As he’s shown already, he can add a very different dynamic to that play, whether it be like-for-like with the wingers or in place of Mark Harris as that No 9, where he’s able to drop, protect the ball, turn, and then run at players from a central area.

“He’ll be a very big threat to us as we move forward into the next couple of games.”