Centre back David Woozley says he is "devastated" to miss the start of Oxford United's new season.

The U's new signing from Torquay was earmarked as a key figure in Graham Rix's rebuilding plans.

United's manager hoped the left-footed defender would build up a partnership and understanding with Leo Roget or Jon Ashton.

But the 24-year-old sustained a nasty knee injury in training last week, which will keep him out for some time.

"It's not good news," he admitted. "It was just a tackle in training and I strained and jarred my left knee. It was just a simple tackle - I can't even remember who the other player was.

"I'm definitely out of this Saturday's game at Boston and for a few weeks probably. But the good news is that it's weeks rather than months."

The former Crystal Palace player added: "It's very, very disappointing and terrible timing for me. I feel quite down about it because I'd been really looking forward to the start of the new season.

"And when you join a new club and something like this happens, you feel you're letting everyone down. So I'm devastated about it."

It was the other knee which gave Woozley problems at Plainmoor last season.

"I had a botched operation in the summer of last year and had to go back under the knife around Christmas- time.

"But this injury is nothing to do with that.

"And I'd like to stress this one is nothing serious, there's no ligament damage or anything like that.

"I don't want people to think of me as injury-prone because that's not the case. Indeed, the season before last, when I was captain at Torquay, I was an ever-present."

Rix is hoping Ashton will be fit to partner Roget at York Street on Saturday, although he has missed a lot of pre-season.

Despite the arrival of Paul Gascoigne, which is expected to greatly increase the gate, Saturday's match is not all-ticket.

There are 2,050 places available to Oxford United fans.