JAMES Constable says he’s delighted that fellow striker Steve MacLean is staying at Oxford United.

The 28-year-old Scot has agreed to remain with the U’s until the end of the season.

And boss Chris Wilder says the next stage now will be to see if a permanent deal can be worked out to keep him here long-term.

Constable said: “It’s a real bonus that he’s staying. He’s been great since he’s come in.

“He creates chances as well as scoring them – he’s made me two or three goals since he’s been here – and I’m just looking forward to working with him more.

“He maybe takes a bit of pressure off the other lads in the team, so it’s exciting for everyone.”

Oxford travel to Northampton tomorrow, with their opponents having completed the signing of Burton striker Shaun Harrad for what former boss Paul Peschisolido said “was a deal which would not be out of place at the top of League One or the Championship.”

But Wilder was delighted that the U’s managed to bring MacLean in without breaking the bank.

“What’s so good is the dynamics of the deal,” he said.

“People think we’ve chucked bucket-loads of money at it, but that’s just not the case.

“The deal we’ve done is a fantastic one, all credit to everyone involved in making that deal possible, and even more so for Steve to come here to the end of the season.”

And over the next couple of mon-ths, the U’s will look to the future with the on-loan Plymouth man.

“Steve’s contract runs out at the end of the season, so he puts himself in the shop window,” Wilder added.

“The thing he’s consistently said is that he’s really enjoyed it here.

“We’ll continue to make him welcome and there’s no reason why, in the next month or so, we won’t sit down and maybe talk about a permanent deal.

“He’s a great age, he’s got that experience, and that confidence that he’s played at a higher level, and I think that comes out at times.

“Take his goal last weekend. He could easily have lost composure and smashed it, but he dragged it back, so although it looked a bit of a scruffy goal, it was great technique because of his first touch.”

Constable is hoping his good performances when coming off the bench in United’s last two wins, might earn him a starting place at Northampton.

“It’s difficult being sub, all you can do is when you do get your chance, go on and take it, and try to have an impact,” he said.