DES Buckingham was delighted to see Alex Gorrin complete 90 minutes for the first time in more than a year.

The midfielder played the entire game as Oxford United beat Forest Green Rovers to seal a place in the last 16 of the EFL Trophy.

Gorrin last played the full 90 minutes in October 2022, as United lost 2-1 at home to Chelsea Under-21s in the same competition.

He then suffered a knee injury during training last December, ruling him out for 10 months.

Gorrin also missed a large chunk of the 2021/22 campaign after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to his other knee during an Emirates FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers in November 2021.

READ ALSO: Oxford United boss happy to play Oisin Smyth at right back again

After recovering from his second injury, and completing his rehabilitation with the U’s, in October he was rewarded with a deal until January.

United head coach Buckingham, who worked with Gorrin at Wellington Phoenix, said: “It’s been a long time for Alex, but you just need to see the work that he puts in day in and day out.

“It was about keeping him a bit calm because I think sometimes when you haven’t played for so long, you want to do everything.

“That was the pleasing thing, he was disciplined in his role and played very well alongside Josh [McEachran]. I thought they complemented each other extremely well, and now we just need to make sure they all recover and get ready for Saturday.”