CHRIS Maguire is happy to be patient for a chance to play in his favourite role for Oxford United.

The Scot has started the season on the left flank, but is keen to play in a more central position in behind a front man.

It is where he finished the last season, stepping inside after Kemar Roofe picked up an injury.

But playing regularly is the priority for Maguire, who returned to sign a new contract at United this summer.

He said: “I want to play every game.

“If the manager asked me to play left back I’d do it for the team. I’d play in goal. I just want to play each week.

“Obviously my preferred position is the No 10 which I ended up in at the back end of last season.

“I’m sure the manager will give me that opportunity at some stage this season, but at the moment I’m happy to be playing and doing a job for the team.”

Starting games week-in, week-out, is a real boost for Maguire, who took time to get going last year after missing much of preseason and then falling out of favour at Rotherham United.

A knock saw him miss several days’ training last week which meant he ran out of steam in last weekend’s Sky Bet League One opener against Chesterfield.

It saw him reluctantly substituted after 64 minutes.

He said: “There were a couple of heavy touches and I think a bit of tiredness came into it.

“I was a bit disappointed to come off, but looking back now it might have been the right thing.”

Any remaining cobwebs were blown away on Tuesday, when the 27-year-old played all 120 minutes of the EFL Cup win at Birmingham City.