Oxford United manager Darren Patterson says the club's injury crisis is easing with striker Gary Twigg and winger Joel Ledgister both back in training.

Twigg hasn't played since injuring an ankle against Droylsden, while Ledgister has made just one start since joining the U's in the summer.

And despite signing two strikers on loan yesterday, the United manager is happy to have competition for places again.

"It's terrific to see them back," Patterson said.

"Gary trained on Wednesday and Thursday and Mickey Lewis was working with him on his finishing."

Oxford's ex-Manchester United midfielder Danny Rose is also on the comeback trail, but defender Matt Day is not yet ready to return, while club captain Phil Gilchrist is still sidelined.

And while fellow centre back Chris Willmott is available, Patterson says that he is keen to give him as much time as possible to get match fit before putting him in the spotlight of first-team football.

Willmott has not featured for United since the embarrassing 5-0 defeat at Rushden where he and Gilchrist were given a torrid time, although both had unfairly been asked to play while not fully fit.

But Patterson has told the former Northampton man that he wants him 100 per cent fit and has organised a special training programme for him.

"I haven't played as well as I know I can this season, but hope that now I can concentrate on getting fit and putting that right," Willmott said.

"My knee has been giving me a bit of jip, which isn't an excuse for playing poorly, but Darren has told me to get some reserve games under my belt and train hard and then I can be back in the first-team picture.

"I was maybe rushed back because of the injury situation at the club and obviously a manager wants as many people playing as he can.

"But Darren has been very positive and said that he will let me get right.

"There obviously haven't been many reserve games, but I played against Aldershot in a friendly last week and I believe there will be another one soon so that I can hopefully get another 90 minutes under my belt."

Patterson says that the signing of Paddy Collins on loan has bought United - and Willmott - a bit of time.

"Obviously with Paddy coming in it means that we have an extra body there," the U's boss said.

"That means that Chris can have hopefully a good month - it's a sort of mini pre-season for him - and get himself fully fit.

"Having said that, he was on the bench on Saturday and if we need him to play he will have to, but I hope that any extra time we can give him wil benefit both him and the club."

He said Willmott and Rob Duffy were likely to play in next Wednesday's behind-closed doors friendly against Northampton.