James Constable gave his strongest hint yet that he would like to sign permanently for Oxford United after his latest two-goal super show lifted the U's to within two points of the play-off places.

Ahead of tomorrow’s crunch clash away to fellow play-off candidates Stevenage, the striker said he'd like to have his long-term future sorted out by the summer.

United's leading scorer, who took his tally to 21 goals for the club this season with a double in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Rushden, is on a season-long loan from Shrewsbury, and the League Two club appear happy to let him go at the end of the season.

And the 24-year-old admits he's thoroughly enjoying his football at the moment with Oxford, which is why he would be happy to remain at the Kassam Stadium for longer.

“Hopefully we can sort something out with the club and Shrewsbury before the end of the season,” he said.

“Ideally, I'd like it sorted so I can get away in the summer knowing what is going on when I get back.”

The former Kidderminster striker, who now has 22 goals to his name this campaign having also netted for England C, says it was always a target to reach the 20-goal milestone.

“It's what I'd always set out to get,” he said after the victory at Rushden took United's amazing run to 38 points from the last 15 games – quite a contrast to the first 15 games, when they managed just 16 points.

“It's been brilliant, in training and in the games, and I think all the lads are looking forward to every game at the minute, and hungry to go out there, perform, and pick up the three points like we have done again at Rushden this week.”

He felt there was some fortune in his opening goal at Nene Park, as the ball ricocheted off Chris Hope, but it was a real in-form striker's goal as he was by far the quickest to react in a tight situation.

“There was a bit of luck,” he added.

“I think their lad's tried to clear it and it bounced of ‘Hopey’, and luckily enough it just dropped to me and I swung over my shoulder, and didn't know too much about it.

“Fortunately, when I looked up it was in the back of the net.

“I'm obviously desperate to get a goal every game and hopefully keep this run going, and if we can keep picking up three points, that will be great.”

United manager Chris Wilder would dearly love to keep Constable and will talk again with chairman Kelvin Thomas on his return from America in the next day or two about both him and right back Damian Batt, who has been offered a deal.

Wilder, who said after the victory that Constable was “priceless for us at the moment”, added a note of caution that a Football League club may be courting him.

“We will be doing all we can to keep him,” United’s boss said.

“But you never know who else is floating around in League Two.”

Wilder insists, however, Oxford will not be held to ransom by players over contract offers.

And he will not be signing any players in the twilight of their careers who are simply looking just to see their time out.

“That's one of the things the chairman brought me into the football club for,” he said.

“We work very closely together.

“He's backed me with the players I've wanted to bring in, we've been sensible with the changes we've had.

“We've moved players on, we've done that within the budget.

“I'm sure he wants the best for the football club just as much as me, and will back me in terms of the players I want to bring in.

“It's a balancing act between the club and the player, but I won't be held to ransom by anybody.”

Meanwhile, Stevenage boss Graham Westley has backed his 26-goal striker Steve Morison to end his barren spell of one goal in his last seven games.

Westley said: "He is not having the best of goalscoring runs, but every goalscorer goes through that. The good thing is that he is getting it out the way at this time and in a moment he will bang a hat-trick in and someone will pay the price.

"Good goalscorers will always nick goals.”