OXFORD United are feeling refreshed after taking a short break following last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at AFC Wimbledon.

The U’s returned to training on Tuesday, having planned two days off regardless of the result at Plough Lane.

Karl Robinson revealed the short pause was needed as United prepare for Saturday’s visit of Wycombe Wanderers in Sky Bet League One.

The U’s head coach said: “The break’s done us the world of good.

“Even with my addictive personality to the game, it was nice to spend some days at home and do things with my family.

“I didn’t watch any football on the Sunday or the Monday, so it was nice to get away from the game.

“Then from Tuesday morning it was full-blast, back at it.

“It was needed for me mentally, because since we’ve come back it’s been 100 per cent.

“I go to watch the girls play, I watch the Under 18s play, I watch games to develop the football club.

“Every now and then it’s important to take a step back.”

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Robinson added: “We have a period of building into something, of dropping off, and results can’t affect that – because what’s the point in planning.

“Sometimes you think it’s not a good time to be doing things, but the bigger picture is the longevity of the season.

“We’ve trained for the last two days, so we’ll have a four-day build-up into the game.

“It’s a little bit different for us, but we feel the week’s gone really well and we’re looking forward to the challenge on Saturday.”

Cameron Brannagan has been itching to put right Saturday’s defeat, where sloppy set-pieces and missed chances cost United.

But the midfielder knows it was important to take a break.

He said: “The days away from each other were needed.

“Everyone was frustrated after Saturday, which is right.

“I always find it hard when you get beaten on a Saturday and you don’t have a Tuesday game, because you can’t put it right.

“You’re sat there on your days off thinking about what you could’ve done better and it’s frustrating.

“We’ve had the meetings and spoke about what we could improve.”