AGON Mehmeti is determined to make a contribution in the second half of the season after admitting he was sick of watching games.

The striker is available for Oxford United tonight in their Checkatrade Trophy third round tie at Charlton Athletic.

A hamstring injury wiped him out for three months before a return over the festive period, only for a virus to rule the 28-year-old out of Saturday’s 1-0 win against Blackpool.

After such a stop-start campaign, Mehmeti is desperate to add to his 87 minutes of first-team action.

“I’m sick of watching games home and away, now I think I’ll keep myself fit,” he said.

“I understand this happens in football.

“You have to do your exercises that will bring you back to the pitch stronger.

“That was my mentality – this has happened, it’s boring and sad, but I listened to the physios.”

Mehmeti’s consolation is there are still at least 20 games remaining, which gives the former Malmo and Palermo front man time to make his mark.

He said: “This is crazy. In Sweden this would be a (whole) season, here’s it’s half.

“There are many games and I hope to help the team win a lot and finish well.”

Another overseas player looking to help get United one step closer to the final at Wembley is Ricardinho.

The left back began a three-game suspension on Saturday, but it does not apply in the Checkatrade Trophy.

The Brazilian said: “I’m happy to have this opportunity to play in the Checkatrade.

“We have a great chance to get through.

“This is what we have in our mind. We need to go there, concentrate and do what we’ve done in the last few games because we improved a little bit.”

A week on from only the second straight red card of his career, the 33-year-old remains puzzled by his actions.

He said: “I have been asking myself so many times, but I couldn’t find the answer.

“It’s unbelievable. I don’t know what to say – there was no reason to do that.

“I thought I could touch the ball, but I came late.

“Maybe if I was a little earlier and just with one leg it’d be fine.

“People say ‘you’re an experienced player’, but you always have something to learn.”