OXFORD United have worrying injury problems which are hampering preparations for tomorrow's vital Division 1 game against Norwich at the Manor.

United's penultimate home league game of the season is one they must win to have realistic hopes of overhauling Bury, staying above Bristol City and avoiding relegation to Division 2.

Central defender Phil Gilchrist (hamstring) and left back Paul Powell (illness) have yet to train this week and although midfielder Nicky Banger trained yesterday morning, following a bad kick on the calf he sustained at Port Vale, he was again feeling sore.

To add to their woes, experienced defender Steve Davis, who has only just returned to the squad following lengthy Achilles problems, is again troubled by a calf injury.

"It's going to go right until Saturday morning before we know who's fit," said manager Malcolm Shotton. "Nicky Banger, especially, looks to be struggling."

The contrast with more affluent Norwich, who signed four players on transfer deadline day and who have been making, voluntarily, an average of four changes per match in recent weeks, is not lost on Shotton.

"I just wish we had that many players to do that," said United's manager. "At training yesterday, I had 16 players and one of those was Elliot Jackson, who's on loan to Stevenage. Norwich have a squad of 30-40 pros." "You try to do as much as you can with the players available. But it makes it hard with working on set plays when you don't know who's going to be in the team."

I believe Shotton may have decided it's time to do away with the long ball to 6ft 7in Kevin Francis. He said: "We've changed things around in a number of positions to see what we can do."

Another option which the fans have been crying out for is to move Paul Powell forward from left back to the left side of midfield, to make better use of his exceptional pace. The trouble is, there's no left back replacement.

Francis may be on the bench and if Shotton sticks by Matt Murphy in attack, he might look to play Simon Weatherstone alongside.

Norwich manager Bruce Rioch signed Paul Dalglish, Paul Hughes, Phil Mulryne and Cedric Anselin just before the transfer deadline.

Dalglish, on loan from Newcastle, and Hughes, on loan from Chelsea, may need late fitness tests following injuries. Mulryne, a £500,000 signing from Manchester United, is set to return after missing the midweek 2-2 draw with Bolton because of a thigh injury, while French star Anselin, who at 18 played alongside Zidane, Dugarry and Lizarazu for Bordeaux against Bayern Munich in the 1996 UEFA Cup final, plays on the right side of midfield.

Norwich have won just two of their last 20 games and are now looking to next season.

Meanwhile, Shotton is hoping Manchester United's brilliant performance in Turin on Wednesday will serve to inspire his players.

"It was magnificent," he said. "I'm delighted for English football."

Story date: Friday 23 April

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