A key meeting today involving League One Ply-mouth Argyle and a High Court judge could have a major bearing on whether Oxford United can keep striker Steve Maclean bey-ond next month.

The 28-year-old Scot has played four games for the U’s, on loan from the Pilgrims, and his stay has been extended until the middle of January.

The former Rangers player’s quality has stood out, and he has played a major part in helping United to back-to-back 2-1 wins in League Two.

Today, crisis club Plymouth face their third winding-up order from HM Revenue & Customs and it’s understood that their lawyers have drafted a detailed “business plan” in a bid to gain a 56-day extension.

A major element in their hopes of being granted a stay of execution, to avoid liquidation, is that part of the money that needs to be raised should be through the sale of players.

United would probably love to keep Maclean, if they could afford to.

He is Plymouth’s record signing at £500,000, but his contract is up in the summer.

And the Devon club, whose staff were not paid in November, are so cash-strapped that they are understood to prefer to let him go sooner rather than later.

The Football League have imposed a transfer embargo as a result of the looming High Court action, a potential stumbling block to selling players during the January transfer window.

It will be lifted only if an unpaid tax bill of around £700,000 that triggered the latest winding-up petition, is settled.

Maclean is out of favour at Argyle, but they will want to ensure they are not left without any strikers.

Strike partner James Constable says that Maclean has already made a big impression during his stay.

“Steve is a clever striker and it’s nice to train with someone like that,” Constable said.

“We have a good partnership going and I can learn a lot from him.”

Maclean had a successful loan spell with Aberdeen earlier this year, scoring five times in 15 Scottish Premier League games, including two in one match against Celtic.