EDDIE Anaclet's resurgence is being used as a shining example of how Oxford United's players can prove they still have a future at the club.

The right-sided midfielder has come through a torrid time, when his confidence seemed to be rock bottom, to become one of the players of the past month during United's impressive late March form.

And U's boss Darren Patterson says he's delighted for the 22-year-old.

"Eddie's a player I'm very fond of and I'm delighted with how he's played in the last three games," Patterson said.

"He unfortunately picked up a very bad injury in our game at Northwich Victoria, as did Matt Green, when he got a dislocated shoulder and Matt broke his collarbone.

"Eddie's had two bad injuries this season, and his form has been up and down.

"But he's shown real character in the last few games and we've made a point about it to the rest of the squad. We had a meeting regarding confidence and pointed to the way Eddie has come through and stood up to be counted.

"Some people talk about it as confidence, I call it character.

"Last season, he played at right wingback, which is a hard shift to do, and some have called him a right back. But this position on the right of midfield suits him well, I believe.

"He's shown he has a good work ethic and can play going forward. His decision-making is improving all the time."

This is a key time for Anaclet because he is out of contract in the summer. And because he's in that pressure situation, he doesn't want to speak to any of the media.

But at the moment he's letting his football do the talking, and is doing his prospects of getting a new deal no harm at all.

Patterson would not be drawn on the former Tamworth player's chances of a new contract, saying simply: "No-one will be made offers or otherwise until May."

The exception to that is Green, who is on loan from Cardiff City, because Oxford know they will face competition from other clubs for the signature of a striker who has already struck six goals for them in a dozen outings.

Patterson has already revealed that preliminary discussion have taken place with the 21-year-old.

"I'm putting him under no pressure. It will be a medical thing as well. We have to make sure that medically he is OK, because this club has been caught out with that in the past.

"But we know he enjoys playing here and know he enjoys working here with myself and Mickey (Lewis), so we believe we're in a strong position."