SAMIR Carruthers is loving life at Oxford United after getting back into the groove of playing regularly during pre-season.

The friendlies finish tonight with a return to the midfielder’s former club, Milton Keynes Dons (7.45).

Remarkably, if Carruthers plays the full game against the Sky Bet League Two promotion favourites, he will have clocked up just seven minutes fewer than he managed in the whole of last season.

While injuries did not help, the 25-year-old’s desire for regular football prompted his loan move away from Sheffield United this summer.

And he joked a holiday was needed given the workload at United this month.

“I think I’m knackered already, I need another six weeks off,” Carruthers said.

“I’m glad I’ve played a lot of football because I had six months where I was doing absolutely nothing, just training and coming to matches I wasn’t involved.

“I’m just happy to be kicking the ball again properly and competing. I can’t wait for the season to get going.”

Like Carruthers, it will also be a return for U’s boss Karl Robinson, who spent six years in charge of the Dons.

“It’s still weird being in the away dugout, but the passion I showed them I’m now giving for this football club,” he said.

“It’s the perfect game, we’re playing the best team in League Two and they will feel they’re playing one of the top half teams in League One.”

After getting this far without suffering anything more than bumps and bruises, the priority will be to get the players through tonight’s final hurdle unscathed.

Only new signing Marcus Browne, who will train with the squad for the first time on Monday, is unavailable.

Tony McMahon and Gavin Whyte are expected to return after sitting out Tuesday’s 4-3 win against Leeds United as United gear up for their League One opener at Barnsley next weekend.

Robinson said: “It’s our last game playing under fatigue, so our players are going to be very tired, but that’s the whole aim.”