Mark Creighton isn’t one to make bold predictions about how Oxford United will burn up League Two this season.

But he has a strong belief in his fellow teammates, and in the players who have joined in the summer, and insists: “We won’t be there to make up the numbers, that’s for sure.”

The Beast, as he is affectionately known, said no-one would be shouting from the rooftops, but there was a confidence within the squad.

“We’re just going about our business,” he stressed. “The lads looked sharp in pre-season, which I knew they would. We haven’t had that much time off, so they have come back in good shape.

“Pre-season’s gone well, we’ve signed some great lads, we’re a close-knit unit here and get on very well.”

The club’s return to the Football League represents a challenge for everyone, as Creighton knows.

“There’ll obviously be better players in the League,” he said.

“From what I’ve heard, there’s not a great difference between League Two and the Conference. It might be slightly easier for us in some respects, in that teams won’t come to the Kassam Stadium and park the bus in front of the goal, as some teams did last year, which was difficult.

“I don’t think we’ll get as much of that this season, which will be nice.”

When Creighton joined the U’s from Kidderminster Harriers he had the opportunity to go into League Two.

“I turned down a couple of moves to League clubs last season when I signed for Oxford and took a bit of stick for it, but that decision proved worthwhile,” he said.

A great favourite with the fans, the big centre half says Oxford’s fantastic support – they are likely to be one of the best-supported clubs in the division – can push them forward again this season.

“I think even if we were in League One, we’d have been one of the better-supported clubs, which is fantastic for us, and really helps,” he added.

“You can’t under-estimate the impact they have. When we’re finding it difficult in games, they really drive us on and are there when we need them the most.”