GREG Leigh feels extra intensity is missing from Oxford United’s game – and could be the difference in whether or not the U’s get promotion this season.

United sit sixth in Sky Bet League One, six points shy of second-placed Peterborough United, and three points clear of Stevenage in seventh.

Their current league position leaves the team with a strong foundation to achieve either an automatic promotion slot, or a place in the play-offs.

Leigh missed just under two months of action due to a calf injury picked up while on international duty with Jamaica, but returned and played the final 20 minutes in the 3-1 win at Carlisle United on January 13, before coming on in first half stoppage time in midweek, replacing the injured Joe Bennett.

A promotion winner with Ipswich Town last season, Leigh is well-placed to assess what the U’s need if the side is to make the jump to the Championship this season.

He said: “The biggest thing I think we need to probably do and add is the intensity.

“I think we can play at an intensity that people in this league, especially this season, aren’t able to handle.

“That’s really important and something we focused on last year, and I think that will help this year, to add that intensity to go and beat these teams that are perhaps not in good form. It’s important we show that by winning games.”

Leigh added: “It depends on the game, it depends on the conditions, and how the opposition is set up, but I think it’s important if you want to go and win games, you have to go and score goals, and stop conceding goals.

“It’s an intensity in the way you attack and intensity in the way you defend. We have that ability to do that here.”

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While Leigh has been out, United have seen players come and go during the January transfer window.

James Beadle, Stan Mills and Sonny Perkins all saw their loans come to an end with the club, for differing reasons, while Ed McGinty and Alex Gorrin have also departed, the former on loan to previous club Sligo Rovers.

Jamie Cumming, Tyler Burey, Kyle Edwards and Will Goodwin have all been snapped up, and Leigh is excited to see what Goodwin can do in particular, when he shakes off a quad injury.

“When you lose players, it’s always important to get people in who are of a similar quality, or even better,” said Leigh.

“Will gives us that Plan B, with a bit more physicality. Mark [Harris] is someone who gets in behind, and is very quick, but having that physical presence is a different way to play the game. It will add to what we are going forward.”