Oxford v Burton preview

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Oxford have no fresh injury worries ahead of the clash with Burton.

The U’s are likely to stick with defenders Jake Wright and Michael Raynes after they were recalled for the 3-0 defeat to Rochdale having being sidelined through injury.

Andy Whing and Jon Meades have returned to full training but this match looks to have come too soon for the pair. Whing, out since November with a groin problem, and Meades, sidelined since July with an ankle injury, hoped to play for the U’s development squad at Watford this week but the match was cancelled.

Oxford will look to build on three successive home wins when they take on a Brewers side just one place and one point above them.

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff is an injury concern for Burton’s trip to fellow promotion hopefuls Oxford.

Cansdell-Sherriff is a doubt because of a hamstring injury so Marcus Holness is on standby to make a rare start and deputise in central defence.

Veteran striker Gary Alexander is struggling with a knee injury while fellow forward Michael Symes is still nursing the knee problem that has kept him out for several weeks.

Lee Bell, Alex MacDonald and Adam McGurk are options for Albion boss Gary Rowett, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Thursday, should he feel like making changes in midfield or attack.

Oxford v Burton preview

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Oxford striker James Constable is set to be reunited with regular strike partner Tom Craddock.

With loanee Justin Richards ineligible to play against his parent club, Constable is set to return to the starting line-up having served his four-match ban for his second red card of the season.

Before that suspension and the arrival of Richards, Craddock and Constable had struck up a real understanding by grabbing 21 goals between them.

Elsewhere in the side Adam Chapman is pushing for a place in the XI after coming off the bench in the 3-0 defeat at Fleetwood – a result manager Chris Wilder is not dwelling on.

“There is still a long way to go,” he told the club’s official website. “We are still in decent nick with four wins out of five and we have got to go and make it five wins out of six on Tuesday now.”

The Brewers ran out 4-0 winners when the sides met earlier this season.

Stuart Tomlinson is expected to keep his place in goal when Burton travel to Oxford.

The 28-year-old replaced Dean Lyness in the Brewers’ starting line up on Saturday on his return from a three-month absence with a knee injury.

Tomlinson kept a clean sheet and was singled out for praise by manager Gary Rowett as Burton beat Barnet 1-0 to record a fifth success home league win.

Ian Sharps also caught Rowett’s eye on his debut after arriving on loan from Rotherham and the experienced centre-half should also keep his place against the U’s.

Rowett has defenders Aaron Webster and Nathan Stanton, midfielders John McGrath, Jimmy Phillips and Jack Dyer and striker Matt Paterson available should he wish to make changes elsewhere.

Burton striker Justin Richards is on loan at Oxford and is not allowed to feature against his parent club.

Oxford v Burton preview

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Oxford will have midfielder Paul McLaren available.

McLaren had to come off after 61 minutes of the 2-1 win over Crewe last Saturday with a groin injury but has been passed fit.

Assistant manager Mickey Lewis said: “From last weekend, Paul McLaren had a bit of a groin problem but that’s cleared up.

“We’ve got everybody fit and available, which is great news.”

New signing Ryan Doble is away on international duty with Wales Under-21s so misses out while three players who have been made available for transfer will not feature.

Simon Clist, Ben Purkiss and Steve Kinniburgh have been told they can leave while Jack Midson signed for Barnet last week.

Burton boss Paul Peschisolido will be without John McGrath.

The midfielder picked up his 10th yellow card of the season against Stevenage on Tuesday night and will be suspended for two matches.

Defenders Paul Boertien and Nathan Stanton (both groin) are unlikely to be fit to travel to the Kassam Stadium.

On-loan left-back Scott Malone faces a late fitness test after being forced out of Tuesday’s game with a hamstring problem.

If Malone misses out his place could go to Leicester defender Tom Parkes, who has rejoined the club on loan until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old centre-back spent the second half of last season on loan with the Brewers, making 22 appearances and scoring one goal.