Andy Whing has warned that Oxford United will put added pressure on themselves at the start of next season, if they fail to halt their slump in the coming fortnight.

The U’s are on a five-game winless sequence and their run-in continues with a trip to Dagenham & Redbridge today.

Unlike their hosts, who need points to finally banish any relegation fears, Chris Wil-der’s men know they will finish in mid-table.

But Whing insists the remaining games are still important, because a winless finish would increase the pressure in August.

He said: “With the run we’ve been having, you want to end the season on some kind of a high.

“We don’t want to let the season peter out and then you have another long summer thinking about what could have been.

“You don’t want to go into next season having finished the previous one without a win in eight games.

“There would be a bit of pressure on you for the start of next season. “We have still got a job to do, we have three games to go and win.”

Injuries will again force changes to the United line-up.

James Constable is out with the ankle injury which forced him off in the 1-0 defeat to Wcombe Wanderers last weekend and could miss all three remaining games.

Jon-Paul Pittman is also out (hamstring), while there are doubts over Sean Rigg (ankle) and Harry Worley (back).

Deane Smalley and Josh Parker could come into the side, while Wilder has to decide whether to stick with Michael Duberry at centre half or recall Michael Raynes, who has served a suspension.

Whoever plays will need to dig in and compete, according to United assistant manager Mickey Lewis.

He said: “Whenever you go to Dagenham you know they’ll be really hard working, will go to the end and it’s always a really tough game there.

“I expect it to be a blood and thunder game.”

The Daggers are likely to be without forward Josh Scott (hip) and goalkeeper Chris Lewington (back).

With on-loan Tottenham stopper Jonathan Miles failing to impress, it means 18-year-old Jordan Seabright, who made his first senior start last weekend, is expected to continue between the sticks in what would be his home debut.

TODAY’S SQUADS

Oxford Utd: from McCormick, Batt, Raynes, Wright, Davis, Whing, Davies, Potter, Craddock, Smalley, Rigg, Heslop, O’Brien, Parker, Duberry, Long, O’Dowda, Worley, Crocombe.

Dagenham & Redbridge: from Seabright, Ogogo, Wilkinson, Doe, Ilesanmi, Silva, Howell, Saunders, Elito, Reed, Strevens, Maher, Hoyte, Fortune, Bingham, Dennis, Miles, Shariff.