MIKE Ford, Christophe Remy and Mark Angel all return following injury for the reserves tonight to give new Oxford United boss Malcolm Shotton a boost.

Skipper Ford, French defender Remy and left winger Angel are all named in the United Res team to face Watford Res at the Manor (7.30) in the Avon Insurance Combination.

Paul Powell, who played in the 1-0 defeat by Sheffield United on Saturday, is also named in the squad.

Remy has played just once since mid-October because of a groin problem while Ford has missed the last five matches with a back injury.

Dutch defender Brian Wilsterman, who hobbled off with a hamstring injury at Bramall Lane, missed training yesterday but is expected to be fit for United's next Division 1 game, against West Brom at the Manor, on February 17.

With no first-team fixture for United next weekend, because of scheduled opponents Reading's involvement in the FA Cup fifth round, Shotton says he may play one or two of his senior players in the reserve game against Swindon Town on Saturday morning.

"We're going to work very hard this week with a view to preparing for the next match," Shotton said. "It might be interesting for one or two players who could get another game on Saturday." The £100,000 sale of striker Nigel Jemson to rivals Bury is unlikely to be the last enforced sale of the season for cash-strapped United.

However, Shotton has been pleased with Jemmo's replacement Simon Weatherstone who scored against Nottingham Forest and went close to finding the net again at Sheffield.

"When one door closes it can open for another player and the lad Weatherstone did well. He had two or three chances and in the end we were disappointed not to come away with anything.

"I couldn't fault the lads' effort, and they were absolutely gutted at losing. They felt as bad about it as I did and that's encouraging to me."

United Res: (from) Jackson, Remy, Davies, Ford, Wickens, Rose, Murphy, Wright, Angel, Aldridge, Cook, Folland, Stevens, Powell.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.