Oxford United’s new midfielder Paul McLaren says he has joined Oxford United because he wants to start enjoying his football again.

McLaren’s recent time at Tranmere had frustrated him.

“Things didn’t work out.

“I had two really good years at Tranmere then left for a year.

“They say never go back. I went back and it wasn’t the same.

“I didn’t have the same feeling as before, and didn’t enjoy my football, to be honest.

“It was a real struggle to stay up, but we stayed up. This year I went to see the manager and said ‘look, things are not really happening for me here, I’m not enjoying my football, and that’s all I want to do at this stage of my football’.

“He said ‘fair enough’ and I went to see him again at the start of November, saying ‘I’m not enjoying it, can I go?’ “He was as good as gold.

“Some managers can get the hump with you and get you training with the kids and things, but he said there’s no point in you being here if you don’t want to be.

“So that’s why I’ve come here.

“I spoke to Oxford in the summer a couple of times, but I was under contract and things couldn’t be done.

“I’ve played about ten times for Tranmere this season.

“When I left there, it wasn’t a formality that I would come here, but as soon as I left there I made a couple of calls because I wanted to get myself sorted out as soon as possible, and Chris (Wilder) showed an interest.

“I spoke to the manager and he’s got ambitions definitely of getting in the play-offs because he’s seen nothing in the league that’s way better and above Oxford.”

McLaren was stuck in traffic for over four hours on the day of the Macclesfield game, when he was only on a watching brief anyway, and got to the stadium just as they scored the second goal.

So the 34-year-old, who began his career at Luton, is relieved that he will be based nearby, staying with his family at Wycombe.