THERE have been plenty of highlights at Oxford United this season, but Michael Appleton says there is no time to enjoy them as he seeks to capitalise on an opportunity 12 years in the making.

Finding a side capable of producing promotion form has been a long road for the head coach, who turns 40 next week.

After false starts at Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers, there was always a sense his time at United would be make-or-break for his managerial ambitions.

After taking most of last season to get things in order, this campaign has delivered – so far.

But Appleton, who served a lengthy coaching apprenticeship at West Brom after retiring as a player in 2003, has waited too long for success to stop and admire the view now.

“It’s difficult sometimes to enjoy it, in the nicest possible sense,” he said.

“You don’t get an opportunity to dwell too much on the game that’s just happened.

“It’s more about staying focused.”

There will be many managers in Sky Bet League Two who look on with envy at United’s set-up this season.

It is true they have a competitive budget, but having learned his trade the hard way, no-one is more aware of the opportunity than Appleton.

He said: “I left West Brom (in 2011) having spent ten years as a player and a coach, so I’d done my time in the trenches.

“I’d done the youth teams, been the first-team coach, been an assistant manager in the Premier League.

“In an ideal scenario I would have left West Brom to take on a project similar to what I’m doing now at Oxford.

“I’ll be honest, I thought I was doing that when I left to go to Portsmouth.

“There was a five-year plan in place, the owners knew what they wanted and it seemed a good idea at the time.

“Let’s face it, if the authorities hadn’t caught up with certain people at a certain time I’d probably still be there now.

“All I’m trying to do is fulfil an opportunity I’ve been given.”

Appleton has always emphasised this season is the first time he has been able to build a squad he can truly call his own.

The statistics back it up, with his win percentage in league games this season almost 20 per cent higher than his career as a whole.

The former Manchester United trainee admits he has drawn too many games as a manager, but it is something this U’s squad have every chance of addressing.

Last weekend they were heading for a goalless draw at Dagenham & Redbridge, when Kemar Roofe’s 85th-minute free-kick won the game.

Appleton said: “We’ve got no God-given right to win any game.

“I say it all the time - one of the most difficult things in football is to win games, whatever level you’re at.

“But as long as we go into those games thinking the same way then I think we’ve got that quality in tight games to make the difference.”