Jon Ashton is out of Oxford United's FA Cup first-round replay against Eastbourne Borough at the Kassam Stadium tonight (7.45).

But that could give an opportunity to Chris Hackett to show his worth - in a match the U's need to win to kick-start their season again.

Ashton, who has been playing lately at right back - largely because of the good form of Leo Roget - has an ankle injury.

Lee Mansell is likely to move back from the right side of midfield and that gives an opening to Hackett to come back in on the right wing.

Hackett is getting back to full fitness after a calf injury, and he was so poor at Leyton Orient that he was subbed at half-time.

But he's a player who manager Brian Talbot hailed as "the best winger in League Two" before the start of the season and on his day he can destroy any opposition.

If he's selected, he needs this to be his day with United desperate to bounce back following their 3-0 home defeat by Wrexham.

Eric Sabin has not scored for nine matches and he too experienced Talbot's ruthlessness after a poor first half on Saturday, when he was axed at half-time.

The U's boss has to decide whether to stick with the Frenchman and Steve Basham in attack, or give a starting chance to Craig Davies, who was omitted by Wales so that he would be free to play for Oxford United in the FA Cup.

One other option for Talbot would be to play Sabin on the left wing and have Davies alongside Basham, but he is more likely to keep the 19-year-old on the bench, ready to come on if the team needs a fresh injection of aggression, pace and passion.

The manager says his players can't wait for the game to come around after Saturday's showing.

"The best thing you can do after a result like that is to get back on the pitch and play," he said. "The Eastbourne match can't come quickly enough."

But he is not expecting an easy game. "It never is easy. Non-League sides always make it hard for you.

"Eastbourne have a lot of ex-League players and will raise their game when they come here. It's important that we get on top of them, dominate the game and don't give them the initiative.

"We have to have the right attitude and be professional."

Talbot told the club's website that, although everyone seems down after recent setbacks, it only needs one win to lift spirits again.

"After a decent start we are now in a little bit of a hole. We have lost one or two games, there's a bit of doom and gloom about the place because of that, and people have now got to start lifting their heads, putting their chests out and start playing again.

"This is an opportunity to get the season back on track with a good result, and a good performance and then everyone feels better in themselves.

"You can't look too far ahead, but one win would just lift us again. When you lose everyone is involved: the players, the manager, the staff and the fans.

"Those fans will have gone home disappointed on Saturday, despite seeing an improvement in the second half. But when you lose 3-0 at home no-one can be pleased, so it's important we bounce back for them."

If the scores are level at 90 minutes, it will go to extra time and then penalties.

The winners are away to Cheltenham - an extra incentive for Oxford as it would be a local derby.