Dean Morgan is desperate to help Oxford United win promotion as a way of proving himself after being loaned out by Chesterfield.

The forward joined the U’s on an initial one-month deal last Thursday and played 90 minutes on debut in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bradford City.

Morgan has made 17 appearances for the League One strugglers this season and felt he should still be playing for the Spireites, so he intends to use the spell with United to underline his ability.

He said: “I’ve gone through this for my whole career where I have to prove people wrong, and nine times out of ten I do it because I thrive off it.

“Obviously there’s something to play for here and I’m looking forward to it.”

The 28-year-old, who won the League Two title with Chesterfield last season, admitted there was plenty at stake with his future at the end of the season uncertain.

“If I play well there will be opportunities – my contract’s up in the summer, so I’m playing for my future,” he said.

“I want to help this club get promoted – to have that on my CV again would be brilliant.”

U’s boss Chris Wilder has long been an admirer of the former Reading and MK Dons player and had seen two approaches turned down in the past.

But it was his persistence which impressed Morgan and proved key to the deal.

He said: “The gaffer came in for me last year while I was playing, and my manager (John Sheridan) was willing to let me go then.

“I was a bit shocked and I turned it down because I was playing and I didn’t understand why he wanted me to go.

“But to be wanted again and to be shown that respect, I said ‘I’ll happily come and play for you, it doesn’t matter where it is in the country’.