Alfie Potter believes Oxford United’s new system will help get him back to top form as the winger continues to recover from an injury-hit year.

The 25-year-old has started both competitive games under head coach Michael Appleton and is set to continue in the side for the Sky Bet League Two trip to Mansfield Town tomorrow.

United have set up in a 4-2-3-1 system so far, with Potter given plenty of freedom as one of the attackers behind the lone striker.

After struggling to make an impact in last weekend’s 1-0 league defeat to Burton Albion, he was much more of a threat in midweek, when the U’s beat Bristol City 2-1 in the Capital One Cup.

Potter is aiming to take another step forward at Field Mill and feels the new approach has been beneficial.

He said: “I struggled massively last year towards the end and this formation is definitely going to help me.

“Once I can find top form, hopefully I can flourish.

“On Saturday it got a bit frustrating – I couldn’t get on the ball as much and I kind of drifted out of the game.

“But on Tuesday I enjoyed the position I was playing in and it was a good game to play in.

“It was definitely an improvement and if I can do that for every game it won’t be long before I’m back to the form I know I can produce.”

Potter scored a career-best 11 goals during the 2012-13 season and made a promising start to the following campaign.

But it was halted by a broken ankle last November, which kept him out for three months.

Despite returning for the final weeks of the season, the former Peterborough trainee admits it has been difficult to find his feet.

He said: “I had serious injuries before, but I’d never actually had any surgery.

“I think it kind of messed up my whole body because after that I was picking up strains here, there and everywhere.

“You can’t just click your fingers and everything comes together at once.

“I feel like I’m getting there and my confidence is coming back gradually.

“I’m working hard in training and the way we’re playing, if we’re getting results and I’m staying in the team, I think my performances will get better.”

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