Oxford United midfielder Paul McLaren joins the elite 500 Club on Saturday.

The U’s recent signing from Tranmere achieves the notable milestone of making his 500th League appearance in the npower League Two match against Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium.

Not too many players reach that total, but the 34-year-old has enjoyed a successful 17-year career since first arriving on the scene as a trainee at Luton Town in 1994.

High Wycombe-born McLaren made 166 League appearances for Luton, 96 for Sheffield Wednesday, 71 for Rotherham, 34 for Bradford, and 129 in two spells with Tranmere.

With the three so far for Oxford United, which have all resulted in wins, he is currently on 499.

McLaren is just hoping United can continue their good form, which has seen them win six of their last seven games.

And on Saturday they are looking for a fourth consecutive away win.

“We’re on a good roll and confidence is high at the moment,” McLaren said.

James Constable could return up front, after having an impact as a sub in the last two games, but otherwise there are not expected to be any changes to Oxford’s line-up, with Alfie Potter still nursing a sore shoulder.

The Cobblers have signed Shaun Harrad for an undisclosed fee from Burton, but the U’s have had a similar boost with Steve MacLean agreeing to stay on loan until the end of the season.

Harrad scored 76 goals in 245 league and FA Cup games for Burton.

United boss Chris Wilder said he knew Northampton’s management team of Ian Sampson and ex-U’s manager Malcolm Crosby had been looking to strengthen up front.

“I know Ian and Malcolm have been looking at their team and have been having to play players out of position because they’ve really been hit by injuries.

“Signing the French boy Francis Laurent, and Harrad, will give them a boost, but we’ve got the boost of Steve MacLean coming into the building.”

With Oxford having over 1,600 fans in the away end, the game should have the atmosphere of a passionate local derby, and with both sides having good attacking players it promises to be an exciting spectacle.

Northampton Town: (from) Dunn, Johnson, Tozer, Beckwith, Davis, Laurent, Osman, Gilligan, McKay, McKenzie, Harrard, Jacobs, Gherasim, Rodgers, Herbert, Wedderburn, Holt, Hall, Kaziboni, Farquharson, Harris, Hinton.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Worley, Wright, Tonkin, Hall, McLaren, Clist, MacLean, Constable, Craddock, Midson, Heslop, Eastwood, Green, Payne, Purkiss, Deering, Sangare, Gaughan.