In-form Oxford United striker Matt Green says he's determined to get his goals tally up to double figures this season.

The on-loan Cardiff City striker has only been at Oxford since the end of January, although he also had an injury-punctuated month with the U's in early December.

His winner in United's 1-0 victory at Stafford last Saturday was his fifth goal in ten starts.

And with ten more Blue Square Premier games left, he feels he can reach ten for the campaign - though that will be a tough task because a knee problem makes it hard for him to play two games in quick succession.

"I definitely want to get double figures if I can," he said.

"It's optimistic, but I'm confident this team can help me get the goals I need to get.

"I could have had three goals last Saturday, but I'm glad to get three shots off because sometimes we don't even get a shot off in games, so it's good just to have the opportunities in front of goal."

Patterson said: "Matt's goal at Stafford was first class. You can see that, if we can keep the boy fit, he's got goals in him.

"His movement's terrific, and he needs to learn the game a bit more.

"The amount of times he was caught offside was poor, but he's still a kid . . . people forget that.

"He's come out of non-League and hasn't had much opportunity at Cardiff, but you can see that the basics are there.

"He's got good pace, good energy.

"We obviously have to take care of him until Thursday, two games a week are too much for him, as we saw against Burton, but if we can keep him fit week to week, and play him once a week, he'll score goals."

Patterson has the dilemma of whether to use Green against Halifax at The Shay on Saturday or in the home game against promotion-chasing Stevenage Borough on Easter Monday - or try to give him a shorter run-out in both.

Green has only recently celebrated his 21st birthday, and he has already proved he can go on a scoring run.

When he was on loan to Conference South side Newport County 18 months ago, he netted six goals in four games, including a hat-trick against Yeading.

  • United winger Joel Ledgister has extended his loan at Blue Square South side Hayes and Yeading until the end of the season after scoring in two matches.