Oxford United clash ‘just another game’ for Northampton Town winger Hackett

Hackett had what he calls ‘five or six good years’ with Oxford after coming through the club’s youth system to make his debut - against the Cobblers - in 1999.

On Saturday he will line up against his former club fully aware of the need to maintain a home record that has provided the platform to the team’s success this season.

And Hackett insists he will treat the Us no differently to any other team to visit Northampton.

“It’s where I started my career and it’s where I’m from but it’s just another game of football for me,” he said.

“We’re in a promotion chase now and every game is important to us.

“All of that goes out of the window and the three points become the most important thing.

“I’ve got happy memories of my time there and it’s a good club where I enjoyed my time.

“But Saturday is all about winning the game and we’ll look to do that.”

There is an outside chance Oxford could yet be involved in the promotion play-offs, although they are running out of games in which to do so.

Anything less than a win would be seen as a setback for the Cobblers, who are hunting down a place in the top three, and who know the importance of their home form.

“The boys were all raring to go,” he said. “But it doesn’t really matter when the games are played, we’ve got to win them whenever they are.

“Results weren’t too bad for us and we know what we’ve got to do between now and the end of the season to get where we want to be.

“Our home form has been our bread and butter and we can’t let that slip against what will be two tough opponents.

“We need to win them to be in with a shout of the promotion push.”