Argentine midfielder Lucas Cominelli says he wants to remain at Oxford United.

And he is urging the club to keep the bulk of the squad together to mount a serious promotion assault next season.

The 28-year-old from Buenos Aires feels he has now adapted to English football and the hundred-miles-an-hour style of Coca-Cola League Two.

His partnership with former Republic of Ireland international Barry Quinn against Southend last Saturday gave his teammates the platform for a shock 2-1 victory over the then league leaders.

As the U's have got stronger with each match this season, so has he,

"Everybody is talking more and concentrating more and for every game that we play well the team gets more confidence," he said.

"It's a big squad here, but I hope the group can stay together to win promotion next season. I think that, if we stay together, we can do that.

"I would like to stay at Oxford, but I don't know what is going to happen. It's up to the chairman, I'm waiting for the chairman to speak to me."

Cominelli, who joined United from Malaysian side Penang, added: "The most important thing to be successful is to have a strong group who get on well together. We have that now."

United's No 33 has played in Spain, with Grenada, and was with Newcastle United for seven months in 2000, though he didn't break into the first team.

"League Two is difficult," he said. "In other countries they play more on the ground and it's not so fast, but every game I have got more used to it.

"Here you need to do more tackles and press more, but also press together. There's no point in Barry (Quinn) pressing and me not, or the other way around. But it's the same with everything, you have to do it as a team."

Striker Steve Basham, who missed the win over Southend with a stomach problem, was back training yesterday.

"Bash did well and looks like he's back and fit and back in contention for Rochdale on Saturday," reported coach David Oldfield.

Head coach Horacio Rodriguez must decide whether to stick to a winning line-up or bring back Basham.

He also has Uruguayan Mateo Corbo available again after a one-game ban.