Veteran defender Andy Linighan, who must be wondering if he will ever get another game, insists he is there if he's needed.

The 38-year-old defender, discarded after the 3-0 defeat at Brentford on New Year's Day, has a contract until May and has already announced that this will be his final season as a player.

But with the signing of Garry Monk, on loan from Southampton, and Ian McGuckin's return to fitness, there's every chance that he may not get another outing.

"I'm just coming into training and I'm there if I'm wanted," said the ex-Leeds and Arsenal centre back who was voted Crystal Palace's Player of the Year last season.

"When I come into training or into the team I can probably add experience and pass on a bit of know-how, and hopefully some of the younger players, who look up to a player like me, can benefit from that."

With manager David Kemp more likely to look to the future, to plan for next season, Linighan's first-team opportunities would appear to be diminishing.

But he has no intention of announcing his retirement from playing just yet.

"I've got a contract until the final match of the season and I'll be available in case the manager needs me until then.

"As to the future, I've got one or two things in the pipeline, but it won't be in football. The coaching side of it has never appealed to me."

Having come in from the outside, Linighan is able to give an objective view on Oxford United's problems. "From what I've heard and seen, there hasn't been much investment in the team over the last few years.

"It was the same at Palace, we had three or four declining seasons in a row and it can be hard to stop it."

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