MIKE Williamson has relished getting back into the regular rhythm of first-team football after making an excellent start to his Oxford United career.

It is early days, but the veteran’s three successive league starts for the U’s is his longest run of games since November 2015.

Williamson has formed an impressive partnership with fellow centre half Curtis Nelson, with the side conceding just once in Sky Bet League One.

And after an injury-hit spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 33-year-old admits he even missed the long coach journeys which come with being a regular starter.

He said: “Every player just wants to play consistently.

“When you have a period of time where you’re not doing that, you realise how much you miss it.

“So coming back and getting into the mix with the usual travelling and team camaraderie, is a big part of it.

“Ultimately it’s about getting minutes on the pitch, which I have done so far.”

Williamson has spent most of his career in the Premier League and Championship, so League One has been an adjustment.

He said: “I’m still getting to terms with it.

“It’s a good blend because physically it’s still demanding, but there’s a lot of good footballing teams as well.

“It’s an exciting league.

“I did my apprenticeship in League Two, so I’m not going to shy away from a battle.”

United’s players get back to work today for the first time since the 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

A free week to spend on the pitches at Roman Way is the silver lining to their early Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Cheltenham Town, with the second-round ties being played tonight.

As one of a dozen summer signings in a squad getting used to new boss Pep Clotet’s ideas, Williamson believes United will benefit more than most from the extra sessions.

He said: “The more free weeks we have the more time on the training ground we’ll get (to take on) the ideas the manager is keen on getting across.

“Ultimately we learn from games and mistakes, so it’s a continual growth.

“When I spoke to him (Clotet), straight away you could see the passion.

“His man-to-man management is fantastic.”