Chris Hackett is hoping the arrival of Graham Rix will ensure his frustrating season ends on a high.

The 21-year-old speed merchant was very much the forgotten man under Ian Atkins, and did not start a league match under the now suspended manager.

However, after Rix took charge last week, Hackett enjoyed an immediate change of fortune, with a full game in Saturday's 0-0 draw with leaders Doncaster.

The winger, who came through the ranks at Oxford, said he was thrilled to be back in the side.

"It was brilliant to start against Doncaster, and I just hope I can keep impressing enough to get a few more," he said.

"The new manager has come in and has got fresh ideas, and it was great to be back involved again.

"Obviously it was a hard match to start in because Doncaster are a good side and very organised, but I thought I did OK considering we were all finding our feet in a new system."

Hackett was on the bench in 35 of Ian Atkins's 41 games in charge, including the first 29 successive matches, but made just one start - in the LDV Vans defeat at home to Rushden.

Despite making several telling contributions this season when coming off the bench, Atkins appeared to see Hackett as someone who could make more of an impact in the final 20 minutes when opposing defences got tired.

But the Sandford-on-Thames lad is hoping that Rix's arrival will work in his favour.

The former Arsenal and England midfielder switched from the customary 3-5-2 system and opted for a 4-5-1 formation, with Hackett and new signing Courtney Pitt used as out-and-out wingers - a move Hackett was delighted with.

"I have sat patiently on the bench all season waiting for my chance," he added.

"The problem was that the team were doing well to start off with, and the wingbacks system we used didn't really suit me.

"I've been a winger or striker all my life, and that formation was asking me to do things differently - but I never really felt I got the chance.

"But the new gaffer has come in and changed things around, and hopefully it's all going to come together for me now.

"I would do anything to play and would do anything to get my home-town club promoted - it would be terrific as a local lad to do that.

"It's a great time to come into the side because we have eight games to go and we can have a real push now to try and finish in that third automatic promotion place."