ASIDE from missing out on a lottery win, the last few days could not have gone much better for Michael Raynes.

The centre back, who turns 27 next week, is still smiling after getting two early birthday presents.

He proposed to girlfriend Vanessa, before stepping back into the Oxford United side for the first time in a month last weekend.

To Raynes’s relief, both proved successful.

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He said: “It was probably one of the best weeks I’ve had in my life.

“I got engaged to my girlfriend and then the result on Saturday meant it was a good week all round.

“I bought a couple of scratchcards as well. I thought it comes in threes, but no such luck.”

An injury to captain Jake Wright provided Raynes with the opportunity to step up from the bench against Newport County.

He slotted in without fuss, combining well with Johnny Mullins to lead United’s reaguard action as they played for most of the second half with ten men.

Wright is unlikely to be fit to face Cambridge United tomorrow, but even if he is, Raynes deserves to keep the shirt.

The form of Wright and Mullins has left Raynes as the odd man out at times the past, but he is determined to make the most of this opportunity.

“I was knackered towards the end, but it felt great,” he said.

"Hopefully I’ve got a foot in the door and my goal is to make it as difficult as possible to take me out.

“That’s all you can do, you can’t worry too much about other stuff, you just have to give your all in every game and see what happens.

“In my head, now we’ve kept a clean sheet it should be the same, but obviously it’s at the gaffer’s discretion and you respect whatever decision he makes.

“I’ve just got to keep smiling every day and work as hard as I possibly can and see where I end up.”

Wright’s status as captain could be seen as a complication he returns to fitness.

But Raynes is hoping more performances like last Saturday will help his case, while arguing the competition between the three senior centre backs, who are mates off the field, is healthy.

He said: “If it was the other way round and I was the captain and somebody else came in and did well, I’d respect it.

“That’s how football is – me, Jake and Mulls are great friends and we push each other on more than anything else.

“There’s no bad blood between us and I think that’s the way it should be to have a successful squad.

“You can’t have bitterness and back-stabbing.

“We all respect each other and in my opinion we’ve got, myself included, three of the best centre halves in this league.”

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