Oxford United’s new assistant head coach Chris Hogg believes the two-week break will be beneficial in allowing time to implement new ideas into the squad.

After an almost two-week recruitment process, former MK Dons boss Liam Manning and his assistant Hogg were announced as the men to take over from Karl Robinson.

The U’s sacked Karl Robinson on February 26 after a poor run which saw one point picked up from a possible 24.

Hogg worked with Manning at MK Dons and the pair got to work last week as they look to steer the United away from the Sky Bet League One relegation zone.

The first game in the Manning era looked to be a perfect start for the new manager before Morecambe equalised in the 87th as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

The U’s are almost halfway through a two-week break as this weekend’s scheduled game at home to Cheltenham Town has been postponed as the away side has had three players called up for international duty.

However, Hogg hopes this will work out in favour of United as the coaching staff will have more time with the squad before the next game away to Peterborough on April 1.

He said: “It’ll be really good. For us as staff to get together and knit together even more.

“It’ll be really good to get a consolidated block of work, there’ll definitely be some hard work and some information to get into them [players].”

Former centre back Hogg spent the majority of his playing career in Scotland with Hibernian making over 140 appearances for the club.

Hogg retired from playing in 2015 to take up a full-time coaching role within the Ipswich Town Academy.

He worked for their under-18 and under-23 teams and was added to the first team coaching staff during the 2018/19 season.

Hogg moved to Newcastle United in February 2020, working with their under-23 team before being appointed assistant head coach of Milton Keynes Dons under Manning.

He now joins Manning at the Kassam Stadium with the club currently two points clear of the relegation places.

Hogg said: “We did lots of homework on the players and the club, on the area as a whole.

“We’re well-prepared for what it is, we know the team anyway from playing against it so it’s been nice to get in and see them in the flesh.

“If you look at the group, there are some good players and it’s a good group.

“The team and the club is better than what’s showing at the minute so it’s up to us to come in and give a little boost, and get things going.

“There’ll be speed bumps along the way, that’s for sure.

“League One is a tough league, it really is.

“It’s a variety each week with the games and teams you’re going to face.

“Once we found the opportunity was going to be available, it was a really exciting one because we knew there was good people and good players here.

“It’s about us making some short-term improvements and tweaks with structural stuff and trying to help the team as quickly as we can.”

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