JAMES Constable admitted that there was added incentive to get on the goals trail – to keep Simon Heslop quiet!

The U’s striker bagged a brace in the win over Swindon, his first strikes of the season.

That moved him level with Heslop – who scored in the draw with Bradford and win over Shrewsbury – at the top of Oxford United’s goalscoring charts.

And Beano was delighted.

“I was getting a bit of stick from Hezzie,” he admitted.

“He was going on about getting two in two, so it’s nice for me to get two as well – and I’m obviously top now (on alphabetical order) so have been pleased to remind him about that.

“It’s always massive for a striker to get off the mark.

“The gaffer’s said that he wants more goals from the strikers this season, but if the midfielders can join in and defenders pop up with a couple as well it can only be a very good thing.”

Constable says that the league table is starting to make good viewing for everyone connected with United, especially considering the tough start.

“It’s always a difficult one,” he said.

“When we look at the table after the first six or seven games it’s always hard because you can’t really judge how other sides are doing.

“It’s maybe not until 15 games that you can really begin to see a top half and bottom half emerge, but it’s still nice at the moment to be at the right end.

“It was also nice to play on the Sunday because you knew what the table was before and where you would go if you won, which we obviously did.”

And an interview with Constable wouldn’t be complete at present without mention of all the speculation about his future.

“It’s quite easy to deal with because I just get on with things,” he said.

“It’s flattering that people are interested in you, which means that you must be doing the right things, but I’m delighted I am here and I didn’t sign a three-year deal to leave after six months.”