JOE Skarz put his astonishing return from a season-ending injury to a special diet which helped him recover in time to boost Oxford United in a vital 2-0 win against Hartlepool United.

The left back was ruled out for the rest of the campaign after rupturing a groin 24 hours before the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

But just three weeks –and one training session with the squad – later Skarz made a shock comeback to bail out United after Jordan Evans fractured a rib in midweek.

His experience was very welcome, as goals from Kemar Roofe and Liam Sercombe kept Michael Appleton’s side in the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places with two games remaining.

It was also United’s first clean sheet since Easter Monday, which was Skarz’s previous appearance.

The 26-year-old has now racked up 399 appearances in his career, a record he puts down to taking extra care of himself off the field.

Skarz simply refused to believe his campaign was over and despite he and Ryan Taylor getting plenty of stick for their eating habits, it has paid off in style.

He said: “As soon as I got injured Ryan Taylor and I went on quite an extreme diet where we’ve eaten well for the past two weeks.

“We’ve not had any refined food, so it’s all things like broccoli, asparagus, chicken, turkey.

“We have had almonds for snacks, no chocolate or sweets – if you put the right fuel in your body it will recover quicker.

“Last Saturday we had our treat, which was some porridge with jam.

“It might sound sad and all the lads have been ripping us to shreds, but when you get back from the injury I’ve had in three weeks you could say it’s worked.”

Skarz successfully came through 65 minutes of the clash at the Kassam Stadium, before being forced off with tight thighs.

When he was asked to take part in training on Friday it was with the view to him returning against Carlisle United next weekend.

But when John Lundstram went down with a problem late in the session, the door opened and Skarz did not think twice about taking the gamble.

He said: “I was up at 6.30am nervous about what was going to happen, because I’ve been used for the past few years training every day without injuries.

“I wasn’t going to say no to a game of this importance. The must-win games are the ones I love playing in.

“Even though I was pretty shambolic sometimes on the ball I was just glad to contribute to a clean sheet.”