ALEX Gorrin is walking a disciplinary tightrope, but any threat of a suspension comes second to getting Oxford United over the winning line.

The midfielder was booked on his first four competitive appearances following his summer move from Motherwell.

It means the next caution will trigger a one-game ban, unless he can stay out of trouble for the next 12 games to reach the cut-off.

To an extent it is an occupational hazard for a player brought in to break up opposition attacks.

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Gorrin, who has stayed out of the referee’s notebook for the past two matches, is working on avoiding cheap cautions, but he is happy to take one for the team if necessary.

He said: “I’m a very aggressive player and sometimes the emotion can get the better of me.

“It’s something I’m working on, to try to stay on my feet more.

“I like to win the ball and I like a challenge, sometimes you get a yellow card.

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“A couple of the yellows I could have avoided and hopefully I don’t get many more.

“But it’s a massive game on Saturday and if I have to make a tackle and get a yellow card and we get the three points then that’s the main thing.

“I’m going to play hard and if I get a yellow card it is what it is.”

The U’s squad were given an extra day off this week in a bid to recover from a hectic start.

Boss Karl Robinson believes it has been especially tough on Gorrin and Chris Cadden, who were teammates in Scotland last season, where the fixture list is not quite as packed.

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And the extra recovery time has been gratefully received.

Gorrin said: “It’s tough on the body, but also it’s hard mentally.

“It takes some time to prepare for a game and then all of a sudden you have another game on the Tuesday. I’m getting used to it now.

“I think the break came at a good time. Everyone looks fresh and energised.

“We had a good session on Wednesday and we’re looking forward to an important game on Saturday.”

The clash at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow is between two teams who have won just one match apiece in Sky Bet League One so far.

But Gorrin expects the U’s to climb sooner rather than later.

He said: “I’m a positive guy and I’d be worried if we didn’t have the quality in the building, but we do.

“Things are going to change and hopefully we start getting the results we deserve.”