Oxford United top gun Constable gets captain's role (From The Oxford Times)

Oxford United top gun Constable gets captain's role

8:00am Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in

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Oxford United’s leading scorer James Constable will captain the side in place of the suspended Adam Mur-ray when they host Rushden & Diamonds on Boxing Day.

With the Blue Square Premier leaders keen to extend their excellent Boxing Day record of recent years in front of another bumper crowd, Beano will not only lead the line, but the side as well.

Manager Chris Wilder, has full confidence in his star striker to do a good job.

He said; “I don’t like the keeper being captain because I think that is a specialist role where they need to keep switched on and look after what they are doing first and foremost.

“But out on the pitch, I don’t think it matters. Beano is a good leader, and whoever is captain there are always people all over the pitch who pass on information.

“ There are all sorts of different captains and I think Beano is one who leads by example.

“Bookings-wise he has his faults but he sets a great example with his work rate and effort at the top of the pitch.”

United will be at home in every way on Boxing Day as they look to continue a remarkable run.

Boxing Day football at the Kassam Stadium has become a tradition for families, with United spending six of their last eight games at home, and some of the biggest crowds of the season coming on that day as well.

More 11,000 people saw the draw with Woking in 2006, and 11,121 were there in the very first season at the new ground to see United take on Luton.

That game ended in defeat but since then United have been unbeaten at home on Boxing Day, and a near five-figure crowd is expected to welcome Rushden & Diamonds.

Fans have been rushing to book their seats, with queues at the ticket-office and a massive surge in phone and internet bookings.

Right back Damian Batt should be available after a hamstring injury.