CAMERON Brannagan believes he is in a good position to go up a gear next season despite a frustrating start to life at Oxford United.

The squad are beginning their summer break, but the midfielder is one player who was keen to play on.

Having decided to leave Liverpool in the January transfer window, the 22-year-old’s debut for the U’s was delayed until March by an ankle injury.

It meant he only managed 12 starts, so the midfielder admits to having mixed feelings about the season ending last weekend.

He said: “There are because I’d just got into the team and was starting to enjoy myself.

“It didn’t start great with the ankle injury I had, but I got up and running, so was more than happy.

“I was itching to play and then got injured. I was gutted, but that’s the way things go sometimes.”

Brannagan signed with the U’s looking upwards towards a tilt for the play-offs.

But by the time he made his debut it had become a battle to avoid relegation.

It saw boss Karl Robinson, who had been his first youth coach at Liverpool, deploy the former England Under 20 international in a deeper role than his more natural position.

But Brannagan sees the last few months as vital for grounding himself at a new club, having spent so long at Anfield.

And it puts him in a far better position for next season than if he had joined this summer.

He said: “Playing those games has settled me down.

“It was a long season with my move from Liverpool and it’s a lot to take in sometimes.

“Everything’s been new to me, so it will be nice to have a break and get away from it all for a bit.

“But come a couple of weeks down the line I’ll be getting ready for pre-season.”

He added: “The lads are a top bunch and the new gaffer has been great with me.

“I’ve known him for quite a while and know what he’s about, so I’m really looking forward to next season.

“Come next season we need to hit the ground running.

“The manager will have a plan and I trust Karl because he’s a good gaffer.

“If we can stick together and the gaffer invests in what he wants, then I think we’ll be fine and hopefully we’ll be going for the play-offs.”