MICHAEL Appleton thinks an increase in time spent on the training pitch over the next month will prove to be important for Oxford United’s development.

A hectic start to the season saw the U’s play midweek fixtures in five of the opening six weeks.

But they have now started a month without a Tuesday game, allowing them several days to prepare for tomorrow’s trip to Luton Town.

It is especially useful for United, who underwent big changes to the coaching and playing staff during the summer.

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Appleton, one of the new arrivals, thinks it will be a useful period.

The United head coach said: “I think the next few weeks are going to be really good for us because I think we’ll be able to utilise the time we’ve got on the training field to just keep improving all the time.”

Part of the challenge for the coaching staff has been in getting United to adopt a different style.

While they are some way short of being the finished article, Appleton is confident the side are on an upward curve.

“I think we’re quite a bit away but we are showing signs of progression all the time,” he said.

“When I talk about baby steps, I really do mean that.

“There’s always a bit of doubt there about whether they were capable of doing that.

“But what they are doing is taking the information on board and trying to do what I’m asking.

“I probably sound like a broken record in training every day because I do repeat myself a lot.

“I don’t apologise for that because I’ll make two or three key points to them that they probably heard yesterday and the day before.

“It’s important and the more you remind them the fewer mistakes they’re going to make.”

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  • Winning the ball back is one area United have looked to improve on in recent weeks

One area the squad have focused on has been what United do when they lose the ball.

He said: “It’s something that irritated me.

“I enjoy watching us when we’re in possession, but I thought we got caught in the trap of we’ll play when we get the ball back, rather than going to win the ball back.

“In the last two or three games we’ve been very good out of possession.”

He added: “I can’t ask any more from the players, other than making sure when we get opportunities to win games we do that instead of drawing them.”

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