JOSH Ruffels wants to justify Oxford United’s investment in an overseas training camp by claiming all three points this afternoon.

Doncaster Rovers’ visit to the Kassam Stadium is the U’s first game in Sky Bet League One for a fortnight.

Since the 1-1 draw at Southend United, the squad used a gap in the fixtures to spend five days training in Spain.

A mid-season break abroad is a first for Ruffels, who made his U’s debut in 2013, and the midfielder is keen to show the money was well spent.

He said: “We don’t usually do trips away in the winter, so it would be nice to prove it did actually work and we are improving.

“Hopefully we can get the three points.

“From the (Chris) Wilder days you wouldn’t really have a week in Barcelona I don’t think – Barnsley maybe – so it’s a nice change.

“It was enjoyable, so hopefully there’s a few more to come.”

While temperatures in Catalonia were not warm, conditions were more favourable than Oxfordshire, where it was due to dip below freezing last night.

It should not threaten today’s fixture, with United covering the Kassam Stadium pitch on Thursday night.

Ruffels is expected to extend a good run in the side which has seen him start all but one of the last 15 games.

While his best work tends to go under the radar, the 24-year-old’s focus is on helping the team.

He said: “Maybe people don’t notice me when I’m on the pitch – I’ll have to score a few more goals to get them to notice me.

“I just play my game, that’s the main thing for me.

“There has been a lot of rotation and maybe this is my time to properly stay in the team.

“As long as I keep my confidence and performances up, I see no reason why I can’t.”

United are hoping to have Gino van Kessel back on the bench, but it is likely to be too soon for Joe Rothwell, who returned to training on Thursday after a minor hamstring problem.

Matty Blair (calf) is missing for the visitors, who could have Alfie May back after two months out with a hernia.

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Tiendalli, Williamson, Mousinho, Ricardinho, Ledson, Ruffels, Henry, Payne, Mowatt, Thomas, Obika, Van Kessel, Napa, Xemi, Baptiste, Ashby, Carroll, Martin, Shearer.

Doncaster Rov: from Lawlor, Mason, Wright, Butler, Garrett, Houghton, Whiteman, Rowe, Coppinger, Marquis, Beestin, May, Mandeville, Ben Khemis, Kongolo, Toffolo, Baudry, Alcock, Marosi.