CHRIS Hargreaves says he is excited by the challenge of re-joining Oxford United, and will do whatever he can to get the club promoted back to the Football League – just as he did at Torquay.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail last night, Hargreaves confirmed that the deal is going through, as a transfer rather than a loan, and he will be with Oxford until the end of the season.

It is likely to be confirmed by the clubs today.

The 37-year-old midfielder says he doesn’t want to step on anybody’s toes and, with the U’s doing so well, he doesn’t expect to walk straight back into the team.

“It will be a new challenge and a very exciting one for me,” he said.

“I hope that I can go back and help Oxford back into the Football League, just as I did at Torquay.

“If I can add something, whether it’s making the press lads a cup of tea at half-time, or out there on the pitch, then I’ll be doing that.”

In many ways, Hargreaves, who scored six times in 73 league games for United between 2005 and 2007 and suffered heartbreak when Jim Smith’s team were beaten on penalties by Exeter in the play-off semi-finals, feels that he has unfinished business at the Kassam Stadium.

And his experience of succeeding in the play-offs could prove vital if Oxford miss out on automatic promotion.

“The pain of that night against Exeter stayed with me really until I lifted the Cup with Torquay,” he said.

“I know the feeling of winning the play-offs, and promotion – that’s huge.

“Like I said when I spoke to Chris (Wilder), they’ve got to be doing something right to be in the position they’re in, and if I am only sat on the bench clapping them to victories between now and the end of the season, I’d be happy.

“The only thing I’m coming to do is help.”

The former Grimsby, Hull, Hereford, Plymouth, Northampton and Brentford player has vast experience in the lower divisions and is an extremely positive, bubbly character in the dressing room.

When out on the pitch, he has ferocious drive.

Recalling his play-off experiences, he said: “We had two tough games against Histon in the semi-finals.

“They threw absolutely everything at us at their place. But we got through and I’ve got that experience of getting through the final.”

Hargreaves, who scored the first goal in Torquay’s 2-0 win over Cambridge at Wembley, added: “Oxford’s a great club and it’s just an exciting challenge for me.

“I’m not coming to step on anybody’s toes and I don’t expect to just walk into the team.

“The transfer’s been a long-winded affair and has caused a bit of controversy. But that’s football, and there’s no hard feelings.”