OXFORD United’s squad are firmly in favour of Mickey Lewis getting the manager’s job full-time, according to Jake Wright.

The skipper made his first appearance under the caretaker’s regime on Saturday, five weeks after picking up a knee injury in Chris Wilder’s final game in charge.

It was not a happy return for Wright, who covered the suspended Tom Newey at left back in a 3-0 defeat at Rochdale.

The centre half, who turns 28 next week, made it clear in his opinion the players were keen to see Lewis become the permanent manager.

He said: “I’m saying now on behalf of the boys every single player is behind Mickey Lewis and Andy Melville (first team coach).

“We are desperate for him to get the job.

“I can only speak on behalf of the players. If he gets it we’ll be buzzing, if he doesn’t then whoever comes in we will be right behind him as well.”

His thoughts came minutes after chairman Ian Lenagan had given an update on the search for a new manager.

The U’s owner reiterated Lewis was under consideration, but stopped short of appointing him until the end of the season as several other candidates are assessed.

Wright said: “I think if we win every game it makes it impossible for the chairman maybe to bring someone in.

“But at the end of the day the chairman is the boss and he wants right by the club.

“He will do what he thinks is right and he works really hard, which a lot of fans don’t see.

“He’s got a good team around him, so I’m sure he will make the decision which he thinks is right for the club, as he always does.

“We just want to do the best for whoever is in charge, we want to do our best for Oxford United and for each other.”

One area not up for debate was the performance at Rochdale.

Wright said: “In the second half they have dominated the game and were better all over the pitch.

“They won every battle and we deserved nothing out of the game.”