WES Thomas is hoping his flourishing partnership with Jack Payne continues when Oxford United take on Bristol Rovers tomorrow.

The duo have linked up impressively in recent weeks to help the U’s record back-to-back victories in Sky Bet League One.

United have won four out of seven games when they have both started, with Thomas netting in five of those fixtures.

The striker is enjoying being the focal point in attack and is confident the chances will continue to come, with the 22-year-old pulling the strings just behind him in the No 10 role.

Thomas said: “When Jack gets the ball, all I have got to do is make some runs and I’m going to get opportunities.

“So the more he can get on the ball, the better it is for me.

“He is a player that gets in the hole between the defence and the midfield.

“He can drive with the ball, find the right pass and for someone so young he is a clever player.

“For me it is just about making the right runs and him picking me out.”

Thomas heads into tomorrow’s clash at the Memorial Stadium on a high after scoring in back-to-back games.

The former Birmingham City frontman endured a difficult first season with the U’s, missing the majority of the campaign with a ruptured Achilles.

A minor knee problem sidelined the 30-year-old for two games last month, but he is delighted to be back finding the net again.

He said: “Everyone knows what happened in my first season and even at the beginning of this one I had a few niggles.

“But hopefully I have put that behind me and I can go on a run and keep scoring goals.

“I’m just enjoying my football and hopefully I can just keep reaping the rewards.”

Thomas has already bettered his goals tally from last season and is on course to score in three successive games for the first time since 2014.

However, the striker insists he will remain level-headed even if he fails to hit the back of the net tomorrow afternoon.

He said: “You can’t have your emotions going up and down.

“Just because you don’t score, it doesn’t mean you are doing things wrong.

“Defenders might just have a great game or goalkeepers might make great saves. You just have to keep doing the right things.”