CONOR McAleny felt Oxford United’s lack of a manager was a weakness Fleetwood Town could have exploited.

The striker was all set to make his first return to the U’s since finishing a productive loan move last season.

But a frozen pitch at the Kassam Stadium saw the game postponed yesterday, which will come as a blow for the visitors.

Speaking before the news broke, McAleny (pictured) felt United’s lengthy search for a permanent successor left them vulnerable.

He told the Blackpool Gazette: “They are probably crying out for a manager so that has got to be an advantage for us to exploit.

“They have been managerless for a number of weeks, that is not a good place to be but that is their problem, we have got our problems and we need to focus on us and take points off them.”

McAleny was a target for United last summer, having netted ten goals in 14 starts for Michael Appleton’s side.

And although the 25-year-old ended up at Fleetwood on a permanent deal, the loan was a big help to his development.

He said: “Under 23 football is good to a certain extent but it is not real football.”