OXFORD United have a clean bill of health going into the opening game of the season after Ryan Taylor returned to full training this week.

The striker hobbled off with an ankle problem 18 minutes into the 0-0 friendly draw with Coventry City a week ago.

But he, along with Liam Sercombe, who came off in the game with a tight groin, have both come through training without any problems.

It means head coach Michael Appleton is able to pick the settled side which started the majority of the club’s friendly matches.

He said: “Sometimes even if you know what’s coming there’s nothing you can do about it.

“That’s my mentality, I don’t need to try and hide what we’re about.

“A lot of stuff we do this year will be about us."

“We’ll be very respectful of the opposition and what their strengths and weaknesses are, but more importantly it’s about what we do.”

Crawley will be without last season’s top scorer Izale McLeod, who has been left out due to speculation he is on the verge of a move away.

Gavin Tomlin (hernia) and Lanre Oyebanjo (knee) are also missing after undergoing surgery this summer.

Crawley have signed Belgian defender Bryan van den Bogaert, but must get international clearance if he is to feature today.

TODAY’S SQUADS Oxford Utd: from Slocombe, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, Roofe, Sercombe, Rose, MacDonald, Hylton, Taylor, Hoban, Roberts, O’Dowda, Humphreys, Hawtin, Collins, Ruffels, Ashby Dunkley, Long, Crocombe.

Crawley Tn: from Woodman, Donnelly, Bradley, Ashton, Bawling, Smith, Walton, Deacon, Rooney, Edwards, Barnard, Henderson, Fenelon, Harrold, Young, Summerfield, McNerney, Preston, van den Bogaert.

  • PETER Lee will be joining the board at Oxford United and plans to buy a five per cent stake of the club.