Oxford United team of the decade: right midfield

Over the next couple of weeks we will be holding a series of votes on this website, with the full side announced over the festive period.

A shortlist by position will be put forward, with the only restriction being they must have made a minimum of 40 appearances for the U’s.

Your decision should be based on what the players have done for the club since January 1, 2010.

Next up, the right midfield slot...

Alfie Potter, 183 apps

The diminutive winger has a place in United folklore for scoring the tension-easing third goal in the 2010 play-off final at Wembley.

Promotion was a big chance for him personally after rebuilding his career in non-league football.

And while United’s first years back in League Two were more steady than spectacular, Potter was invariably involved when they did catch light.

Scorer of a couple of memorable solo goals, his progress was slowed by injuries – particularly a nasty ankle problem in 2013.

But he recovered to play a United for another two years and has the distinction of scoring in six different seasons this decade, more than anyone else.

Also read: Oxford United team of the decade vote: goalkeepers, right backs, left backs, centre backs

Alex MacDonald, 97 apps

A deadline day capture for Michael Appleton in January 2015, MacDonald took a leap of faith.

He walked out on a Burton Albion side who would go on to win the League Two title in favour of a U’s side battling the drop.

But he only had to wait a season to make it into League One as just as with Joe Skarz, who had signed days earlier, he became a key – and hugely popular – player in a terrific side.

MacDonald and George Baldock were a formidable partnership on the right flank and terrorised defences week-in, week-out.

The winger made 52 appearances that season, starting all the crucial games.

He was a regular in the first half of the following campaign before surprisingly being moved on in January, to the huge disappointment of both the player and United fans.

James Henry, 127 apps

It sounds odd now, but it took United supporters time to warm to Henry, who was signed to add knowhow to the squad.

However, his goals were arguably the difference between survival and relegation in 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Henry took centre stage after Pep Clotet and Jack Payne left in January 2018 and by that April there was no surprise he provided the goal which effectively made them safe – a diving header to win the game at Doncaster Rovers.

He shouldered an even bigger burden amid an injury crisis last season, going on to claim a career-best haul of 15 goals.

While much of that spell came in a central position, he has also been effective in a narrow role on the right.

Henry, whose total includes a huge variety of finishes, is in double figures again already this season and only James Constable has netted more often than him in this decade.

Gavin Whyte, 47 apps

A one-season wonder for the U's, but he made huge strides in the 12 months after signing from part-time football in Northern Ireland.

The big factor in Whyte’s favour was pure pace and he was quick to settle into life in England.

Three goals in his first five appearances led to a first senior call-up for Northern Ireland, where he scored with his first touch.

Back at United, injury problems elsewhere in the squad saw them rely much heavier on Whyte than they had anticipated.

It led to a mid-season dip brought on by fatigue, but he rallied late on and a hat-trick at Shrewsbury Town meant only James Henry scored more goals than him last season.

It had caught the eye and he moved to Cardiff City for about 20 times more than United had paid for him.