With only two Blue Square Premier games scheduled in the next month, Oxford United manager Darren Patterson knows how important today's home match against Burton is for his struggling side.

The rest of October, and early part of November, is taken over by the FA Cup and Setanta Shield, and the only other league game the U's have in the next four weeks is a home clash with York on November 1.

United have been good at home in recent weeks, it's just away that they can't score.

Today they are boosted by striker James Constable's return from injury.

Although it was Jamie Guy and Lewis Haldane who looked in pre-season as though they would be challenging hard with Yemi Odubade, to be the team's main source of goals, it's Constable who has stood out – even though he has only found the net in two different games!

The U's boss left it open who would partner Constable, evidence of his disappointment at both Jamie Guy and Yemi Odubade, who missed one very good chance each at Altrincham It is likely that Constable and Guy will continue their old striking partnership.

Constable said: "I'm just hoping to get a start and get quite a few minutes under my belt, and then if goals come that would be great."

He has found the net against Burton in the past, though not for his old club Kidderminster.

"I remember scoring against them for Walsall in the Birmingham Senior Cup," he said. "We went up there and I scored then."

Burton, in third place, are hoping to cement their position in a very tight division.

Manager Nigel Clough is expecting a more difficult game at Oxford to the one in March, when the Brewers revelled in the wide, open spaces of the Kassam Stadium and strolled to a 3-0 victory.

"We go there in similar circumstances – in that Oxford have been having a bit of a difficult time, but they are a better side this season," Clough said.

The U's hope that skipper Joe Burnell is able to play, after having to pull out of training on Thursday, while centre back Darren Stride is ruled out for Burton.

Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Clarke, Quinn, Foster, Carruthers, Haldane, Burnell, Murray, Trainer, Constable, Guy, Hinchliffe, Odubade, Willmott, Deering, Hutchinson.

Burton Albion: (from) Deeney, Buxton, Corbett, Holmes, Gilroy, Webster, Bailey, Goodfellow, McGrath, Harrad, Pearson, Newby, Morris, Poole, Yates, Simpson, Austin.