FOR the first time this season Oxford United manager Malcolm Shotton looks set to name an unchanged team for tomorrow's visit to Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

It will almost certainly be the one that finished last week's 3-3 draw with Ipswich.

But it's hardly a luxury for Shotton. Injuries to the five key players who are sidelined - Kevin Francis, Phil Gilchrist, Steve Davis, Matt Murphy and Nicky Banger - still require time to clear up, so he has few alternatives.

"Quite honestly, the side virtually picks itself," he said before the team set off for the north-east today. They will be training later near their base at Washington, County Durham.

Dean Windass and Andy Thomson will continue as the new striking duo in the absence of Murphy and Banger, while Brian Wilsterman and Phil Whelan carry on after playing as centre backs together for the first time just a week ago, in the absence of Gilchrist and Davis.

"Gilly's a lot better and so is Murphy," Shotton declared. "But with hamstring injuries, if you come back too soon one wrong move and you pull it again and then you're out three weeks."

However, United have been boosted by the news that Kevin Phillips looks likely to miss tomorrow's all-ticket game.

He got a kick on his left ankle after scoring in the 3-0 midweek Worthington Cup win over Chester, and Michael Bridges is standing by to replace him. Peter Reid's team are already without Republic of Ireland centre forward Niall Quinn, who has back problems, although Daniel Dichio, a £750,000 signing from Sampdoria, is a more than adequate replacement.

Former QPR striker Dichio has hit five goals in seven games, but is not as big a danger as Phillips, who struck 30 goals last season.

"If he is out, that's great news," said United's former Sunderland midfielder Martin Gray. "He's a lively player and can't miss at the moment."

"I believe if you can stop their front men and their wide players, Johnston and Summerbee from playing, cutting out the service to the front men, you can beat them because they don't get many goals from other areas.

"Having said that, it's about what we do that counts."

Sunderland should have Chris Makin (kidneys) and Alex Rae (hernia) back after injury but Rae may have to make do with a place on the bench.

United's French defender Christophe Remy could also be on the bench after successfully coming through a reserves' game this week.

Sunderland are the first division's top scorers at home with 11 goals already this season.

Tomorrow's gate will be one of the lowest of the season at the Stadium of Light with Oxford taking only around 300 supporters - but it will still be around the 35,000 mark!

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