By Jon Murray STRIKER Steve Anthrobus looks likely to miss Oxford United's Division 2 match at high-flying Wigan tomorrow.

The ex-Crewe centre forward has been receiving treatment all week on a thigh injury he picked up in the U's 1-0 win over Bournemouth.

And manager Denis Smith last night described him as doubtful.

With time running out before the team bus left for the north at lunchtime today, Anthrobus's chances of making the trip looked slim.

United have been working in training on Nigel Jemson returning to the side, and he will probably partner Jamie Cook up front.

Ben Abbey and Dean Whitehead are out injured, and Joey Beauchamp will again be missing with a groin problem.

Chris Hackett, who scored twice for the youth team last weekend and was also on target for the reserves when coming on as a substitute at Leyton Orient this week, has been added to the squad and could be named as one of the subs. One selection dilemma facing Smith is who to use at centre back. Phil Whelan has been Mark Watson's regular centre half partner in recent weeks, but Steve Davis did well when coming on as a substitute against Bournemouth after Whelan went off with a broken nose.

An injury like that won't stop Whelan playing and the decision on who lines up at the back may boil down to the type of players Wigan use in their attack.

Smith watched Wigan's 1-0 home defeat by Preston and feels that scoreline will not harm Oxford's chances.

"I'm sure that result will put extra pressure on them," said United's manager. "I was at the game working for Sky and it was a cracking game of football, more like a hard-fought cup-tie than a league game. It would have taken quite a bit out of them, so it's up to us to work on that." Smith explained: "Originally, Sky wanted me to do the West Bropm game that night but when I saw Wigan were playing I asked to do that instead.

"Wigan had won their previous five games and were in great form so to get beat even though they played well will have knocked them a bit."

Paul Lundin is back in full training and is likely to be one of the substitutes.

And Neil McGowan was yesterday back in his first full session of training since breaking his leg at Oldham in January.

"I trained with the youth team and I hope to be training with the first-team squad again on Monday," he said. "One of the muscles felt tired but I didn't feel any problems with the actual leg, so it's looking good so far."

Story date: Friday 07 April

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