DES Buckingham has explained why Josh Murphy didn’t start for Oxford United yesterday, despite a string of encouraging performances recently.

The 28-year-old winger has arguably been one of United’s standout players since Buckingham arrived as head coach on November 16, putting in strong displays from the bench against Cheltenham Town and Bolton Wanderers in Buckingham’s first two Sky Bet League One games.

Murphy then started the Emirates FA Cup win at home to Grimsby Town, before changing the game at half-time as the U’s edged past Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Trophy.

Des Buckingham: Oxford United ‘simply weren’t good enough’ in loss at the Posh

However, he had to settle for a place on the bench at Peterborough United yesterday, coming on at half-time, with Buckingham’s side already 2-0 down.

With his teammates struggling to get to grips with the Posh, Murphy had an instant impact thanks to some electric runs and dangerous crosses from the left wing.

The former Cardiff City wide man caused all sorts of problems for the home side’s skipper Peter Kioso, who was booked on the hour mark and substituted with 14 minutes to go, as he risked picking up a second yellow card.

Discussing the call to start Murphy on the bench, Buckingham said: “It was a very difficult decision, Murph has been good. We looked at how we wanted to set up in the first half, and we wanted pace, but we knew the condition of the pitch.

“Rather than go for pace both sides, we thought we had it with Stan [Mills] on the right, and as it turned out, we were playing with the wind against us in the first half anyway.

“Murph will push for a start, and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t start on Tuesday night against Reading.”