Dean Whitehead is standing by for his first appearance in a senior competition when Oxford United take on Wolves at Molineux tonight.

The 18-year-old midfielder from Abingdon looks certain to be named at least a sub, and he may even start in the U's Worthington Cup first round first leg clash.

Manager Denis Smith has hinted at changes after Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Port Vale which leaves his team pointless from two second division games.

One will be enforced, with centre half Ian McGuckin certain to miss the game because of a back injury.

Smith's options are to play Lee Jarman or Jon Shepheard in defence, and with Wolves boasting two top strikers in Temuri Ketsbaia, the Georgian international, and Robert Taylor, a 1.55m signing from Manchester City, he may choose to play five at the back. He says that Whitehead, who has made just one short substitute appearance in the Auto Windscreens Shield tie against Luton, deserves a chance.

"He's been in my thoughts all along. So too has Chris Hackett and he would have been in the squad too had he not done his calf in training yesterday.

"I need to look at who my strong characters are and it's the young lads who will go out there without that fear of losing."

United's manager was very disappointed with his midfield trio of captain Peter Fear, Paul Tait and Matt Murphy and at least one seems to be dropped.

"On paper, I thought they would be the strength of the team, but they haven't been so far," he admitted.

Goalkeeper Hubert Busby Junior's international clearance is now through and he could be on the bench.

Wolves, who will be without Michael Branch (hamstring) and Ludovi Pollet (hernia), have been knocked out of the Worthington Cup by Bournemouth and a Jermaine McSporran-inspired Wycombe in the last two seasons.

Oxford last year reached the third round after defeating Everton at Goodison Park. The second leg is at the Manor Ground in a fortnight.

Former United defender Mark Watson has been on trial with Wolves for the past fortnight and played half a game in one of their pre-season friendlies, but he's not likely to feature tonight.