Striker Steve MacLean says he’s sure the goals will come for him too.

The former Rangers, Scunthorpe, Sheffield Wednesday and Aberdeen hit-man, now on loan to Oxford from Plymouth until the end of the season, has scored goals virtually everywhere he’s been.

Yet, while watching Tom Cradd-ock and now James Constable take their personal tallies for this season to 12, he’s managed just three – one for Argyle, and two in 11 Oxford appearances.

With the U’s doing well, he’s not losing sleep over it, as he’s been the provider on many occasions.

“I’d definitely like to get a few more goals,” he said.

“I’ve not been here that long, and I’ve not got as many as I’d wanted, but I think my all-round play has obviously kept me in the team.

“So hopefully I can get a few more goals along the way and hopefully keep providing as well.

“To be fair, I’ve never really set myself targets, but I’ve scored 25 goals in this league, and been out for six weeks as well.

“I’ve scored 20 goals in League One, and been injured for three months. I’ve scored 20 goals in the Championship as well.

“I’ve not really struggled for goals and I’m sure, if I have a run, and a whole season, I’m sure I can come up with regular goals.”

The 28-year-old from Edinburgh also struck five goals in 15 starts for Aberdeen last season, including two late goals to bring the Dons a dramatic 4-4 draw with Celtic after they trailed 4-2.

“Scottish football gets a raw deal at times,” he said.

“It’s better than people make out, but obviously with only ten teams it gets a bit boring, especially if you draw them in the cup and have a replay, you can end up playing them six or seven times a season, which isn’t good.

“But the standard’s OK. It’s not as good as it once was, back when I was a kid, but it’s still a decent standard.”

For the moment, though, Mac-Lean is just enjoying his football with Oxford United, and the facilities impress him.

“The set-up here’s very good, and the stadium’s a different class,” he said. “If you put another end on, it’s a Championship stadium.

“The training ground’s good, it’s got a decent area, and they’ve got a lot of pitches up there.

“It’s certainly a club going in the right direction, and a club that’s bigger than League Two.

“Hopefully, as players we can take it further than League Two.”

Speaking before the Shrewsbury game, he added: “These next two weeks are massive for us – these next four games are massive.

“But we just try to take the three points in each game, and then go on to the next.”