ALEX MacDonald compared today to Christmas Eve as the Oxford United forward impatiently awaits the adrenalin rush of competitive football to return.

Just 98 days since the U’s won 1-0 at Newport County on the final day of last season, the new campaign kicks off at home to Crawley Town tomorrow.

MacDonald struggled to describe how players feel on the cusp of a new season, but the 25-year-old simply cannot wait to get cracking.

He said: “It’s hard to find a word for it, but excitement is there.

“Football fans see it as kind of Christmas Eve prior to the first game of the season and it really is no different to us.

“We’ve had games in pre-season, but nothing beats playing competitive games where there’s really something at stake.

“I’m just really buzzing to get going.

“I will have a little think about it on Friday night, as I have done really all this week – if you say you’re not thinking about it I think you’re telling a little fib.

“I don’t necessarily get nervous or have the butterflies, it’s a weird feeling and one that you can’t replace.”

The aim is to get away to a fast start, but MacDonald is the only player in the squad to experience a win at the Kassam Stadium on the opening day of the season.

He was part of a Burton Albion side which pinched a 1-0 victory 12 months ago on the way to winning the Sky Bet League Two title.

MacDonald left to join the U’s in January and thinks man-for-man the squad Michael Appleton has assembled is at least as good as the one he left behind.

He said: “In terms of the teams I’ve played in League Two, I’ve not played in a better one than this.

“Burton was a different kind of team.

“It was well-organised and players really knew their roles, but individually I don’t think it was better than this one.”

United will kick off the season as the bookmakers’ third favourites for the title, behind Portsmouth and Luton Town.

It brings an added pressure, but MacDonald is confident the group of players are well-equipped to handle it.

He said: “Coming to this club there’s a big expectation level, regardless of what the bookies think.

“The fans expect success, I was made well aware of that before I came here.

“Being one of the favourites with the bookies genuinely doesn’t make any difference to any of us.

“We know our jobs and will take it into every game.”