OXFORD United’s in-form goalscorer James Constable insists he’s got nothing to prove to Stockport boss Paul Simpson at the Kassam Stadium today.

When he was manager of Shrewsbury, Simpson let Constable leave, to join Oxford, and the talismanic striker has gone on to score a remarkable 58 goals in 98 starts for the U’s, including four in the last two games.

Constable says it will not make any difference to him who is in the opposition dug-out.

“I don’t feel I’ve got anything to prove to anyone other than myself,” he said.

“I’m just desperate to go out there and score goals and get wins.”

And he acknowledged how much United boss Chris Wilder, who this week signed a new three-year contract at Oxford, has helped him in his development.

“He’s been a fantastic thing for me personally and for the club,” said Constable. “He’s really helped me in my career.

“Obviously Darren (Patterson) brought me in and I hadn’t been doing too well.

“Chris got me back to basics and got me doing what I needed to be doing to get goals.

“He’s made a massive difference to me and the football club in general. He and the chairman have made massive strides.”

One particularly astute piece of management from Wilder was to take the decision to give Constable the skipper’s armband.

It’s not often a centre forward is made captain, and with Constable’s fiery nature and frequent questioning of officials’ decisions, the move had the potential to back-fire.

But instead it’s calmed the player down, and helped him to concentrate on his responsibilities to the team.

Constable also praised Wilder’s man-management skills.

“They’re the best I’ve seen with any manager,” he said.

“He can completely change your outlook in a split second – he can take you aside and give you that confidence you need, that other managers don’t see.”

United, bidding for a third successive win, will have Mark Creighton and Harry Worley in central defence with Jake Wright nursing a back injury.

Said Wilder: “We’ve been happy with the performances this season.

“We can say we should have won here or should have won there, but we’ve got the points we’ve got.

“We’re going to have off days when it doesn’t click, but we’ve got to make sure we have more on days than off. So far, fortunately, we’ve had that.”

Anthony Tonkin and Worley play against their former club.

Stockport’s danger man could be on-loan Plymouth striker George Donnelly. After scoring four times in 16 games last season, he has already struck four in six games this term.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Purkiss, Worley, Creighton, Tonkin, Heslop, Payne, Hall, Green, Constable, Craddock, Potter, Deering, Bulman, Baker, Clist, Midson, Eastwood, Cole, Woodley, Franks.

Stockport County: (from) Glennon, Lynch, Swailes, Assoumani, Griffin, Turnbull, Tansey, Vincent, Mainwaring, Conlon, Donnelly, F Williams, Poole, Pilkington, Halls, Fisher, Simpson, Proctor.