Gareth Ainsworth believes both Wycombe Wanderers and Oxford United will ‘be in the top 10’ at the end of the season, despite the club’s slow starts to the season.

The Us and the Chairboys are currently sitting in 18th and 19th place in the League One table in which they have collectively won just six times in the division from their 21 games.

Oxford sit just one position above the Adams Park club on goal difference.

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However, the 49-year-old believes that both Wanderers’ and the Yellows’ struggles this campaign have been down to injuries, as they prepare to face each other for the first time this season at the weekend.

Ainsworth said: “Injuries have impacted both of us.

“Karl [Robinson] and I have certainly lost key players and we’ve both got to play people out of position in different formations.

“We just need to make sure that we have a good second half to the season, especially when we get to November and December time as our squad needs to be fully fit for when we enter the Christmas period.

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“I am well aware that we both (Oxford and Wycombe) have got a tough injury list, but I am sure that both clubs will be in the top 10 come the end of the season.

“And when you get into that top 10, it’s about where about you finish in the top 10.

“Will it be top two? The four after that? And that’s where we want to be.

“But the competition in League One is huge this season.”

The match at the Kassam Stadium will be the 32nd clash between the two, with six clean sheets being kept in the last nine meetings.