Sean Rigg is looking to get Oxford United back on the goal trail with his first strike of the season in today’s visit to AFC Wimbledon.

The U’s are the joint highest scorers in Sky Bet League Two, but the finishing touch has deserted them in the past week, with goalless draws against Accrington Stanley and Exeter City.

Their chances of ending the mini-drought have been hit by injury and suspension this afternoon.

Dave Kitson is banned following a red card against Exeter, a hamstring injury means Alfie Potter is still not ready, while Deane Smalley is a doubt with a knee problem.

It puts added emphasis on the attacking players who remain. Rigg has come close to opening his season’s account in the past two games.

And the winger, who scored one goal and laid on another in a 3-0 win for United at Kingsmeadow in December, is in the mood to get off the mark.

He said: “I’ve felt closer to scoring every game at the minute. “I just have to keep getting my shots off. Hopefully something will fall for me and I’ll get on the scoresheet.”

He added: “We’ve got to work with what we’ve got. “I’m sure we’ll put something together that’s good enough to beat them and we’ll be going for the three points.”

Johnny Mullins (ankle) remains on the sidelines, further reducing the options available to manager Chris Wilder.

With Kitson out he could opt to play Ryan Williams just behind striker James Constable, or play Rigg up with the pair and switch to a 4-3-3.

Either way, one of Scott Davies or Asa Hall is likely to come into the side. Wimbledon have fewer problems, but after covering more than 1,000 miles this week for games at Morecambe and Hartlepool, may suffer from fatigue.

Mickey Lewis, United’s assistant manager thinks it might be a factor in the closing stages.

He said: “They might change the team around, but those things do come into it, definitely.”

Wimbledon’s travel headaches continued on Thursday, with a crash on the M25 preventing some players from attending training.

Andy Frampton (back) could return as Neal Ardley’s side look for a first win in six games, but Charlie Sheringham (ankle) is not ready for first-team action.

TODAY’S SQUADS

AFC Wimbledon: from Worner, Fuller, Weston, Bennett, Fenlon, S Moore, Sweeney, Pell, Porter, L Moore, Smith, Sainte-Luce, Midson, Strutton, Francomb, Antwi, Kennedy, Frampton, Brown.

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Hunt, Raynes, Wright, Newey, Davies, Whing, Rose, Williams, Constable, Rigg, Smalley, Marsh, O’Dowda, Hall, Ruffels, Bevans, Crocombe.

 

Meanwhile, the draw for the first round of the FA Cup takes place at 1.35 on Sunday.
Oxford United will be ball 29 and the winner of Oxford City’s match will be No 68.