MALACHI Napa is daring to think about playing a surprise role in Oxford United’s run-in.

The winger had written off the campaign weeks ago as he focused on taking his time to recover fully from a broken leg.

But the suspension of the Sky Bet League One season, which looks likely to be for at least three months, has opened the door.

He said: “Oh, 100 per cent, it’s giving me so much motivation.

“It would be a lot of pressure, these are big make-or-break moments.

“It’s like a dream, you’re there to help the team to promotion.

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“After that type of injury I wasn’t expecting myself to be back (this season), so if I get an opportunity it would be wicked.”

An impressive pre-season had put Napa into first-team contention last summer.

But 22 minutes into only his fourth U’s start, in the Carabao Cup first round tie against Peterborough United, he suffered the serious injury.

Rehabilitation has been slow but steady, with the focus on making sure when he came back there were no lingering issues.

It was why the 20-year-old had been content to be patient and focus on getting back for pre-season.

But with the 2019/20 campaign now forecast to slip well into the summer, he is expecting to restart training on the same footing as the rest of the squad.

Napa said: “I haven’t been told officially, but I’m doing everything they’re doing with the workouts.

“I’m also doing my little bits to keep myself active. I need to be on top of that, so I’ve been set a programme with my physio.

“It hasn’t been giving me any irritation, but it’s hard to say that for sure now because I haven’t been doing the same activities I was doing at the training ground.”

He added: “Whether I came back in pre-season or before, it wasn’t a problem.

“I’m a guy who always accepts what happens and you just have to find a way to get on with it.

“It was just about coming back at 100 per cent.

“If I felt shaky I wasn’t going to put myself in that position because I want to be 100 per cent effective for the team.”

While Napa has enjoyed being able to spend more time with his loved ones than normal during lockdown, he describes the U’s squad as his second family.

The daily Zoom meetings online have helped keep them connected, with Jamie Mackie’s workout video a hot topic this week.

Napa said: “I would expect nothing less.

“He’s just a great guy for keeping a good mood in the changing room.

“You need that, 100 per cent.”