JAMES Henry believes boss Pep Clotet’s calm and positive manner has been the key to Oxford United’s upturn in form.

The winger was involved in two goals as the U’s beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 on Saturday.

It built on their fine victory at Peterborough United the previous week, when they ended a three-match winless run.

Had they lost at London Road, Clotet’s side would have only been three points above Sky Bet League One’s relegation zone.

But such is the competitiveness of the division, back-to-back wins have seen the U’s climb to within a victory of fourth-placed Rotherham United.

And Henry attributes the improvement in results to the level-headed approach deployed by Clotet.

The 28-year-old said: “I think it has just been very consistent (since the start of the season).

“I have had a few conversations with him as well and it’s just reiterating to the squad that it hasn’t been that bad.

“He showed us some clips of the good stuff we had done in the three defeats and I think it gave everyone a lift.

“We’ve shown in the last two games how good we can be when we’re firing on all cylinders.”

Henry added: “He speaks to everyone, he is very good like that.

“He is very good for morale, he tries to keep everyone upbeat, and he’s been fantastic.”

United have scored seven goals in their last two games and Henry believes it is all down to having trust in the way Clotet wants his side to play.

The winger said: “Looking from the outside in, you probably think it’s all doom and gloom because you’ve lost three in a row.

“It probably goes for the same when we’re winning, it probably isn’t as good as we think it is.

“So all we can do is keep playing the football we want to play and try to impose our style.

“In the last two games it has really worked.”

Meanwhile, forward Gino van Kessel has not travelled to Qatar with Curacao.

He will be assessed by United’s medical team over the next 48 hours after limping off against Wimbledon.