WHILE everyone is searching for positives to cope with the coronavirus lockdown, for one Oxford United player it has been easy.

Elliott Moore became a father on March 22, when his partner Phoebe gave birth to Harper Rose.

And the timing has allowed the centre back something fully-fit footballers never have during a season – paternity leave.

“The silver lining to all that’s been going on in the world is the fact I’ve got to be here with her,” Moore said.

“It’s a nice feeling being able to help and be with her, especially in these first couple of weeks.

“It’s been an eye-opener to see how much of a responsibility it is, though.

“We’ve got two dogs and we thought they were hard work.”

United had put in place precautions if the baby came early, with Moore travelling separately to the Shrewsbury Town game last month in case he needed to make a quick getaway.

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Those worries vanished with the news the season had been put on hold due to the pandemic.

But while that sorted out one problem, it also created a new one as hospitals began to tighten restrictions over who could attend the birth.

Fortunately for the 23-year-old, Harper arrived at the John Radcliffe Hospital just in time at the end of a near 18-hour labour.

He said: “When we were getting discharged the next day the nurses were coming round and kicking all the partners out.

“They said I could stay because we were getting ready to leave, but the ones who had just arrived weren’t allowed to be there any more.

“We were very lucky we missed the mayhem and got home together.”

He added: “The only thing is no-one else has been able to meet her yet.

“That’s been the tough part, but the baby’s been fine.”

Moore fits in his physical work around Harper’s routine.

And while the former Leicester City apprentice would love nothing more than to get back on the training ground with the squad, his new arrival is proving a very useful distraction.

He said: “I think if I didn’t have a baby I would be absolutely bored out of my head and ready to do something.

“You don’t realise how big a part of your life that daily routine of going into training is until it’s taken away from you.

“When you have a week off it’s nice, but to have three, four, five, however long this is going to be, it’s tough.

“For me it’s less difficult, because I’ve got something to keep me occupied – and she makes the day go very quickly.”