Towering centre back Harry Worley says he doesn’t mind being pushed up into attack in the final few minutes if Oxford United are chasing the game.

He did it for the U’s against Bury on Saturday, and although he wasn’t able to grab an equaliser, or help others do it, his physical presence clearly gives tired opposing defenders something extra to think about.

Older Oxford fans will remember how legendary centre half Matt Elliott was often pushed up front when the team needed a late goal, during the Denis Smith era in the mid-90s.

Whereas Elliott joined Leicester from Oxford, in a club record £1.6m transfer, former Chelsea youngster Worley made the journey in the opposite direction in the summer.

He impressed greatly during pre- season and is keeping Mark Creighton out of the team.

After Saturday’s 2-1 defeat, Worley admitted he has been thrown up front plenty of times before.

He said: “I did it a few times for Chelsea – I had one cleared off the line against Arsenal, I remember.

“On Saturday we needed a bit of presence up there when Jack (Midson) and Greeny (Matt Green) had gone off. I was just giving my all really, but unfortunately it didn’t come off.”

The defender reckons United were unfortunate to lose, and wouldn’t have done had they shown the same clinical finishing as they managed against Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup.

“That’s what happens in football,” he said. “You take your chances, as we did on Tuesday, and you win 6-1. It could easily have been that in this game. That’s not to take anything away from Bury, they’re probably going to be one of the better sides we face this season.

“As we were chasing the game, we've got killed at the back.

“We’ve got to tighten up so it doesn't happen again, especially at home, in a game we’ve largely dominated.”

With no midweek fixture, United wil work on the training ground before Saturday’s derby at Wycombe.

Meanwhile, former United triallist and Didcot Town striker Stuart Beavon played the full 90 minutes for Wycombe’s reserves yesterday in his first match since breaking his left leg against Maidenhead United in May.

The game at Brentford finished 0-0.