Joey Beauchamp has set his sights on pulling on an Oxford United shirt before the end of the season, after being told his toe injury - which he thought would be better before Christmas - would need more rest.

The 30-year-old winger has been sidelined since the start of September with the injury and went to see another specialist in London yesterday in an effort to clear up the long-standing problem.

But the home-grown star was told that he would need a special support in his shoes and boots to cure the pain, and it would be a few weeks before he can even think about training again.

"I have seen a few specialists and they have all put their points of view across, but I'm certainly a lot clearer now on what needs to be done," Beauchamp said last night.

"I still have the pain in the joint which I thought would go when I had the operation, and it looks like it will be two or three weeks before I can start training again.

"I thought I'd be back playing before Christmas, and have told my dad and brother for the last two months that it would only be a couple of weeks before I am back.

"But I'm saying to myself now that I just have to play before the end of the season."

Beauchamp has yet to make a start at The Kassam Stadium, and expressed his frustration at being confined to the stands for almost the entire season.

But he is hopeful the problem may now have been cured once and for all to allow him to get back to doing what he does best.

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