JOEY Beauchamp has been declared fit to face local rivals Reading in tonight's all-ticket Division 2 match at the Manor - but Peter Fear is out.

And that means U's boss Denis Smith has to find a midfielder to operate on one of the flanks.

It's not an enviable decision. He has plenty of options, but not one of them looks clear-cut.

Beauchamp recovered from getting the ball smashed into his face at Gillingham, but Fear's ankle injury is a cause for concern.

"He had an X-ray on it yesterday and, though it didn't show up a crack, it's not clear one way or the other yet."

There were worries that Fear may have sustained a crack but even though the X-rays seem to have ruled that out, there could be some ligament damage which will only really be known when the swelling dies down.

A further fitness concern for United was that Derek Lilley missed training yesterday through sickness, and he might not feel strong enough to start.

Lilley was outstanding when he came on at Gillingham, so Smith isn't having much luck.

Smith said: "Derek's been getting better and better since I've been here, in training as well, and he was excellent on Saturday.

"It's amazing, when things are going well you don't get any injuries, suspensions or sickness, but when they're going against you they all come at once."

Lilley will probably need a late check with the doctor. Should he get the all-clear, he could play up front because when Smith put Craig Russell on the wing, to utilise his pace, it caused the Gills a lot of problems.

Other options for that midfield spot are Mickey Lewis, Jamie Cook, Simon Weatherstone and pushing Les Robinson further forward which

would then enable Smith to accommodate on-loan Christian Edwards at right back. Another would be to use 18-year-old Dean Whitehead who has been excelling for the youths and reserves this season. He will probably be on the bench.

"If we were in the middle of the table, there'd be no doubt - he'd be starting," Smith said.

Whatever combination United use, the manager wants a positive approach.

"There were a few glum faces about yesterday and I don't want glum faces about on a Monday morning," he said.

"Reading have been going well lately, so it's up to us to make sure we carry on the way we performed on Saturday, which was excellent."

The Royals have lost only one of their last seven matches - a 2-0 defeat at Chesterfield - and their £800,000 signing Martin Butler, from Cambridge, has made a huge difference.

Reading manager Alan Pardew said: "We would be confident if it was a home game but our away form has been very disappointing."

Scott Howie is preferred to ex-Oxford keeper Phil Whitehead, who is on the bench.

Story date: Tuesday 07 March

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