CONOR McAleny was thrilled to help send Oxford United to Wembley full of confidence after a 5-1 win against Bury – even if he cannot be part of it.

The on-loan Everton forward hit his second hat-trick in a month, completing the haul with almost the last kick of the game.

It came after Marvin Johnson and Joe Rothwell had struck for a U’s side who looked in the mood from the very start.

A big performance was just what United needed to stay in the Sky Bet League One play-off race, closing to within four points of the top-six, while warming up in style for Sunday’s Checkatrade Trophy final.

McAleny is cup-tied after appearing for the Toffees’ under 23s earlier in the competition, but was happy to play his part in sending them to the national stadium on a high.

He said: “I’m gutted I can’t play (on Sunday) to be honest, but I’ll be there cheering the lads on.

“The most important thing tonight was we needed the win. A hat-trick is a bonus, but I’m delighted.

“We pressed them really well and made them make a lot of mistakes.

“The lads were eager to take some confidence into Sunday’s game. That’s what we’ve done.”

U’s boss Michael Appleton had urged his side before the game to make the most of one last chance to impress before the big occasion.

Rothwell was certainly listening, delivering one of his best performances since joining the club last summer.

He said: “I don’t think we’ve killed teams off enough this season, as we did in the first half.

“To be fair to the lads, we’ve not really talked about Wembley and I think it showed we were fully focused on the league, because we’re still in with a shout in that.”

Bury were very fortunate to finish the game with 11 men, after the experienced striker Ryan Lowe came through the back of Johnson.

Shakers boss Lee Clarke, who substituted Lowe at half-time, could see why United felt it should have been a dismissal.

He said: “I think he’s lost his head.

“If I was Michael Appleton I would be asking why he wasn’t red-carded. That was one of the main reasons why I took him off.”