Oxford United boss Darren Patterson hopes to further strengthen his team by bringing in a central midfielder this week, and completing a deal to sign Michael Howard on a permanent contract.

Howard ended his month's loan from Morecambe with another accomplished performance in United's 1-0 victory over Droylsden on Saturday, the first time the team have chalked up back-to-back wins since August.

And Patterson says United will make the left back an offer, with the complicated Conference rules prohibiting them from now extending his loan until the end of the season.

"We'll be putting something together and speaking to Michael and his agent, and obviously Morecambe, to see what we can get sorted," said the U's boss.

"He's done well for us and I certainly hope Morecambe don't now want him back! I was led to believe there was a possibility that, if we were happy with him, we could keep him.

"Because of the rules, we now have to sign Howard, we can't now take him on loan until the end of the season.

"It's a real hindrance, I don't know who makes these rules up - Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck - but it's a royal pain in the backside and doesn't help one little bit."

Patterson added, following Saturday's game: "I hope to have one more player in next week.

"I was disappointed that I didn't have him in for today's game. There was a glitch at the other end. But we're still hopeful we can get him in for next week because we still need that."

Patterson added: "It's harder with these rules for me than for other managers at the moment because I'm looking to build and build, whereas other managers are looking for one or two.

"I want to continually build until the end of the season.

"It will probably again need me to get one out to bring one in - I have to generate my own money.

"I think I've shown I can wheel and deal with a very tight budget.

"Everybody wants a lot of money and to be able to go out and spend it, but a lot of managers haven't got that chance. I just get on with it."

The Ulsterman's massive rebuilding job at United is only partway through, but the new-look team still comfortably beat bottom club Droylsden, although they had only Barry Quinn's 31st-minute goal to show for their dominance.

It wasn't anywhere near as fluent a display as last week's 3-0 win over Histon, but Patterson said sometimes you just need to dig in and make sure you get the three points, even when you're not playing anywhere near your best.

"We won ugly, but there's not too many times we've won ugly this season," he said.

"We played a hell of a lot better against Aldershot, who are top, and lost. I'd rather have played ugly and got something against them.

"Points are what matters at the minute and although we didn't reach the heights that we wanted to, as in our passing and movement - everything for me was too slow and deliberate, especially when we were in possession - we were in total control really.

"They had a shot in the last couple of seconds, but other than that, we were in control all game."