Oxford United striker Craig McAllister says he's looking forward to linking up again with Justin Richards in competitive league action.

The duo struck up a very successful partnership when they were at Woking two seasons ago.

Both forwards have been with the U's for more than a month - McAllister joining until the end of the season from Grays and Richards signing on loan until May from Kidderminster.

But the hamstring injury Scottish centre forward McAllister suffered in only his second game for the U's - against Weymouth on January 8 - means they haven't yet had the chance to combine in the Blue Square Premier.

That could change at Forest Green Rovers this Saturday, although manager Darren Patterson now has strong competition up front with Matt Green having already demonstrated his quality in the recent 3-0 win over Histon.

McAllister and Richards are the same age, 27, and they showed they've got a good understanding on the pitch in the friendly at Witney United, McAllister scoring in the 2-0 victory.

McAllister said: "Justin and I were at Woking together and we had a good partnership there.

"He went on to bigger and better things, and left me at Woking!

"We understood each other quite well and I thought we did well for what we were given.

"No disrespect to other lads in the team, but we weren't one of the so-called stronger teams that year, and we did quite well.

"We worked to each other's strengths and it was one of those partnerships that clicked. Hopefully, it can continue."

There seemed almost a slight air of resentment that Richards had got his big chance back in the Football League, with Peterborough, after that stunning 2005-6 campaign when they bagged 31 goals between them.

But McAllister conceded: "Justin scored more than me that year, 22 I think it was. It was last year that I scored more goals, getting 16, and he had gone by then obviously.

"I thought I might have had my chance to move on last year, but things happen. I went to Grays and it wasn't quite right for me."

Richards netted one goal in four league starts at Peterborough but then moved on again, after loan spells, to Kidderminster. And now he's at Oxford, he's eager to prove he deserves a contract for next season.

"He's happy to be here, he wants to get down and work hard, the same as me," McAllister said. "And hopefully we can get back to the way we were at Woking."

Patterson said: "What I want is four proper strikers who have scored goals at this level or the level above - and that's what I intend to have for the start of next season. Then you add to them with your best young strikers "For a lot of this season we've only had two fit strikers and that's really hit us.

"You need four for competition, and to change things around in games."