STAYING patient and professional is easier said than done when you are out of the team and in the final weeks of a contract, but it was the only option which crossed Danny Rose’s mind.

After two months on the sidelines, the midfielder returned to Oxford United’s side against Carlisle United last weekend.

To everyone except the match sponsors, Rose was the man of the match – adding energy and purpose to help engineer a 2-1 win against Carlisle United.

It should mean he is one of the first names on the teamsheet against Wycombe Wanderers today.

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But having gotten used to putting the team first, Rose is not about to stop now.

“Callum (O’Dowda) is available, so if he was to come back into the team I couldn’t begrudge that because he’s done so well for us this season,” he said.

“Of course you’d be disappointed, but when you’re out of the team you have the mindset the group is more important than an individual.

“If that’s the case this week, then so be it.”

Rose is experienced enough to know both how to handle being dropped and the damage which can be done to the rest of the side if a player deals with it badly.

He said: “I’ve witnessed players at other clubs where they’ve not trained as hard as people know they can and sulked.

“That can have an effect on the rest of the squad, because the players in the team need training to be at a tempo where they’re getting the best out of it.”

It does not mean the time spent out on the cold has not been testing, though.

Rose said: “It’s probably been one of the most frustrating patches of my career that I’ve been through, from a psychological side.

“It is difficult to remain positive, but you have to be as professional as possible.

“I really appreciated the standing ovation when I came off (against Carlisle).

“I had a few messages on social media which was really nice and I replied because it meant a lot to me for them to make the effort.

“The least you can do is say thank you.”

In the background, the former Manchester United youngster’s contract at United ticks down.

No talks will be held until the threat of relegation is completely assured, but Rose is keen to stay.

He said: “We’ve been told a few bits about the plans for next year and everyone wants to be a part of it.

“My family are really settled here, little things like that make a difference from a footballer’s perspective.

“I’d love to stay, but you never know what the future holds.”

  • DANNY Rose is grateful for Oxford United head coach Michael Appleton keeping him informed during a two-month stint out of the side.

The midfielder featured regularly earlier in the season before a run of ten successive games as an unused substitute.

Rose returned to the line-up last weekend and while admitting it had been a testing time, the 27-year-old thanked the U’s boss for being clear.

He said: “I’ve always been kept in the loop.

“The gaffer is really open and honest if you go and see him.

“In this case he came to me with reasons why, which from my perspective was really refreshing.

“It kept me in as positive a mindset as possible to know why I wasn’t in the team.

“It was a bit of encouragement to keep doing the right things because sooner or later you’ll get your chance.

“It happened (against Carlisle) with two players being unavailable.”