GEORGE Baldock says a connection he feels with Oxford United owes more to the welcome received from teammates and staff than his time spent watching the side as a child.

The right back has been a big hit since arriving on loan from MK Dons last month.

It has been something of a homecoming for the 22-year-old, who lives in Steeple Claydon, near Bicester.

“I used to be a season ticket holder here when I was really young,” he said.

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“It’s weird how it’s panned out that I’ve come here on loan because a lot of people in my village are Oxford fans.”

Baldock has enjoyed playing regularly again after losing his place at the Sky Bet League One promotion hopefuls through injury.

But the defender believes any link with the club is down to what has happened in the past month, rather than nostalgia from watching the team as a youngster.

He said: “I think more important is the connection has been made since I’ve been here, nothing from when I was young, I didn’t really know what was going on to be honest.

“It was more being dragged along by my dad and brother, but obviously I enjoyed it.

“That’s where the football relationship started, but it’s more to do with the friendships I’ve built from my time here.”

He added: “I think a lot of credit goes down to the manager.

“His attitude has been unbelievable for someone who got a bit of stick and results hadn’t been going their way.”

“The way he’s treated the lads and the respect he’s shown to us.

“He’s never once put pressure on us, he’s always given us the freedom to play football and I’ve enjoyed that more than anyone.

“The other one is the skipper (Jake Wright), I think he’s been vital in keeping everyone together.

“The group is very tight-knit and that equates to no pressure on the team – that’s the environment you want to play football in.”

United will be in the market to sign a right back this summer, but it is unclear whether they have a chance of making the loan permanent.

There is still more than a year left on Baldock’s contract at MK Dons and the player says his focus is on the short term.

He said: “I don’t know what they want to do with me next year, whether they’re in the Championship or League One.

“I really don’t know, it’s a terrible cliché but I’m just taking it game by game and seeing where I’ll be at the end of the season.”