RICKY Holmes believes Oxford United should be aiming to reach the top half of the Sky Bet League One table by the turn of the year.

The winger is slowly working his way back to fitness after a back problem, which means he will only be able to make a cameo appearance against Blackpool today.

But the clash at the Kassam Stadium is the first of five league games up to and including the New Year’s Day trip to Plymouth Argyle.

An awful start to the season means Karl Robinson’s side have not been higher than 19th, but they have lost just one of their last ten league games.

And Holmes is confident they are capable of reeling in the six-point gap to 12th, which would give them a platform to attack the second half of the season.

He said: “That’s my target.

“It should be within the club, otherwise we’ll get past Christmas thinking ‘why are we in the bottom half of this league with the squad we’ve got?’

“I came here because I thought we were going to get promoted.

“We’ve turned it round now and at Christmas you can pick up so many points.”

Holmes’s impact on loan from Sheffield United has been hindered by an ongoing back issue which steadily reduced his ability to train.

In a bid to solve the problem, the 31-year-old has spent a fortnight undergoing some alternative therapy.

United are treading carefully when it comes to easing him back in, but Holmes thinks the gruelling treatment was worth it.

He said: “I saw a guy in Kent and spent two weeks getting battered around. I was covered in bruises.

“He was getting round my hips and breaking down all the scar tissue.

“It’s the worst pain I’ve ever had, you’re biting into a towel and nearly crying.

“But if it’s 15 minutes on the pitch and I can help the team again instead of doing 15 minutes with him it’s progress.

“But I’ll be looking at the gaffer from 60 minutes saying ‘come on, get me on’.”

United are expected to name an unchanged 18-man squad as they go in search of a fifth straight home league win – something they last achieved as a Football League club in 1996.

Blackpool are likely to welcome back experienced midfielder Jay Spearing after a twisted ankle, but defender Curtis Tilt (hip) is a doubt.

TODAY’S SQUADS

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Hanson, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels, Mousinho, Henry, Brannagan, Browne, Mackie, Whyte, Holmes, Smith, Garbutt, Raglan, Long, Norman, Mitchell.

Blackpool: from Howard, Turton, Daniels, Heneghan, Bola, Spearing, Guy, Thompson, Delfouneso, Dodoo, Gnanduillet, Feeney, Guy, O’Sullivan, Pritchard, Nottingham, Tilt, O’Connor, Boney.