Ruben Rodrigues: Oxford United player 'motivated' to deliver after setbacks
- Published
Ruben Rodrigues netted a brace in Oxford's 3-0 win over Burton Albion on Saturday
Oxford United midfielder Ruben Rodrigues said he felt "more motivated" after recent suspension and injury to return to scoring form on Saturday.
The 27-year-old netted twice in the U's 3-0 win over Burton Albion, taking his tally to six league goals this season.
Rodrigues went straight back into the starting line-up after missing last Tuesday's 1-1 draw away at Reading.
"I'm happy the gaffer [Des Buckingham] has the confidence in me to put me straight back in the team," he said.
"I didn't train until Friday."
The Portuguese attacker has made 19 appearances since arriving from Notts County in the summer, but had his rhythm disrupted in November after being sent off in the 2-0 loss to Cheltenham.
Rodrigues told BBC Radio Oxford: "After the Leyton Orient away game leaving on a high, I got suspended to two silly yellow cards, I let the team down. Then you get a bit more motivated to get back in and do well.
"At Peterborough [United] I sprained my ankle, which meant I had to miss Reading [last Tuesday], which was very unfortunate because it's the biggest game of the season for the fans and for the players. To miss that game was a big miss for myself."
Oxford's win over struggling Burton was their first in five league games under Buckingham, and Rodrigues said their performance should give a lift to everyone involved with the club.
"It's a massive win. Also, we don't have a Tuesday game to fix it [if we hadn't won].
"We hadn't won since Leyton Orient, that's a long time. For the confidence, for the fans, for the players, and of course the manager - it's his first league win - of course it's a massive boost.
"You can see him [Buckingham] doing well, and it's going in the right direction again."
The U's now sit third in League One on 40 points, just a single point off Peterborough United, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot.