MARCUS Browne says happiness is the key to his impressive form as the Oxford United loanee looks for one more big push this month.

The 22-year-old has been a revelation in a central midfield role during the past two games.

Wins over AFC Wimbledon and Ipswich Town have reignited the U’s play-off push in Sky Bet League One.

Karl Robinson’s side could get back into the top six tonight with a victory against Accrington Stanley, if results elsewhere go their way.

Also read: Oxford United have injury concerns over trio for Accrington Stanley clash

Browne’s spirits are certainly high, as the attacker puts his frustrating first half of the season at Middlesbrough behind him.

And it is not just about dropping a division.

He said: “There’s more to it than that. There’s stuff that goes on that’s not seen.

“You go through difficult times in football and for me the first half of the season was probably one of them.

“I struggled to stay in the team at Boro, I was in, I was out.

“The team wasn’t doing so well and getting changed quite often, so for me it was difficult.

Also read: Oxford United recall Rob Atkinson from Eastleigh loan

“But coming here I knew the gaffer and worked really well with him.

“He trusts me, so I feel like I can play with that freedom to go and do my thing and enjoy myself.”

The main aim for United during a February where they played eight league games was just to stay in touch with the top six.

They are closer now than at the start of the month and Browne is aware expectation is rising again, but is staying grounded.

He said: “It would be a brilliant month if we win the two games this week.

“We know our end goal, but for us it’s more important we just look at the next game.

“We’ll leave it to the fans to dream about where we’ll be at the end of the season.”

Having generated some momentum in the past seven days, goalkeeper Simon Eastwood is keen to capitalise on it in a week – and month – which is rounded off at home to relegation-bound Southend United on Saturday.

Also read: Oxford United 'one of the best teams we've faced', says Accrington Stanley boss

After winning in front of nearly 20,000 spectators at Ipswich last weekend, the experienced stopper knows it will be a completely different feeling this evening.

He said: “I think in the Ipswich game the pressure was off us a little bit, so I think the roles are reversed in these next two games.

“The pressure’s on, people will be looking from the outside that we should be winning them.

“They will be tough but realistically as a team we will be looking and thinking we should get six points.”