Kerrouche - I am here to get Oxford United some goals (From The Oxford Times)

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Kerrouche - I am here to get Oxford United some goals

9:30am Friday 10th February 2012 in U's News By Mark Edwards

Mehdi Kerrouche pictured at Oxford United’s frozen training ground yesterday after completing his move from Swindon on a month’s loan

MEHDI Kerrouche is confident of making a big impact at Oxford United.

The Swindon Town striker joined the U’s on a month’s loan yesterday, with the move funded by the club’s 12th Man scheme.

And while he is aware of the rivalry between the two clubs, the French-born Algerian striker says that all he wants to do is play football.

Having scored eight goals in 18 games for Swindon this season, Kerrouche has fallen out of favour with Town boss Paolo Di Canio.

And the 26-year-old is determined to prove to the Italian that he has made a mistake by letting him leave.

“I know it is a rival club, but the more important thing is that I need to play football,” he said.

“Oxford have given me the opportunity and for this I want to give back the confidence that the gaffer (Chris Wilder) has given me.

“I’m happy to be here.

“It was my first day, all the players here have been gentle with me and I liked the way we worked.

“I play every game to score goals and when I am on the pitch, my only thinking is to win and to score goals.”

Kerrouche started the season in fine form, but says that he is still a confident player, despite his lack of games.

“For me nothing has changed, I am always confident in myself, I don’t doubt myself,” he said.

“Now with Di Canio I don’t play for this moment and I have to leave the club and play because I know my quality and know I can score, and for this I want to play now and prove it was the wrong decision (to let me go).

“If I score, it’s good for both Oxford and myself.

“I think this is why the gaffer here called me. My objective is to score as many goals as I can.”

Kerrouche is ineligible for the derby match between the sides on March 3 and admits it will be an interesting game for him to watch.

“Of course it will be strange, but for this moment I don’t think about this,” he said.

“I think about my fitness and I have to improve my fitness and for that I need to be on a pitch.

“I don’t think I can play 90 minutes at the moment.

“I am fit, but I have missed the rhythm of the competition and today I train with the team and it was good, but I feel I am not 100 per cent because I have missed that rhythm.

“Training is not a game and it is very different.

“I think that after a week I will be not 100 per cent, but can be very well and play a lot more.”

And if he scores, watch out for his trademark celebration – sucking his thumb.

“It’s for my daughter,” he explained.

“Since she was born I have always done this for her when I have scored.

“Hopefully I can do it as well at Oxford.”

News of Kerrouche’s arrival came on the same day that striker Jon-Paul Pittman was ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury.

Pittman is the third forward in a week to be sidelined through injury.

It was also confirmed that forward Matt Fletcher has left the club.

Comments(19)

Is that you Lovesey says...
10:22am Fri 10 Feb 12

Good luck Mehdi, you deserve to be playing football, great player....

COYR !!!!!