Adam Chapman admits Billy Turley has kept him going while he’s been out of the Oxford United team.

The former Sheffield United player, who marked his return to the side with a cracking free-kick drive in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Crawley, may be back on the bench at Barrow today.

That’s one of several tough decisions facing boss Chris Wilder, who has Damian Batt and Jamie Cook available again after missing the midweek victory.

Chapman ran 50 yards or so over to the dug-outs to celebrate with Turley after his goal at the Kassam Stadium.

And he admitted: “Billy’s kept me going when I’ve not been playing – he just makes me laugh that man!

“That’s why I ran over to celebrate with him.

“Adam Murray was trying to tell me to whip it (the free-kick), but I just took out all my aggression and hit it.”

“It has been frustrating not being in the team because I’m a young lad, and I just want to play. But what can you do?

“When the team’s playing well and winning . . . and obviously I’d rather be winning and not in the team than losing.

“The first couple of weeks I was gutted not to be in the team, but not as gutted as I should have been because Billy’s put a big arm around me. He’s been like a big brother to me.”

Chapman admitted he did fade against Crawley, in what was his first start in eight matches.

“I did get tired. I was so excited and so happy to be back in the team, I was running around like a madman, and it caught up with me.

“We knew Crawley would make it horrible for us, they always do that whether you’re at home or away. But I thought we were patient and we were deserving winners.

“Going to Barrow’s not going to be nice and they’re going to make it horrible for us as well, but these games pose different threats.

“But we’re in good spirits and top of the league. We’ll see what we can do.”

Chapman’s starts this season have mainly come at right back, but he says he still sees himself as a midfielder, and has been encouraged that there’s still a route back into the side in that department.