Several Oxford United players whose opportunities have been limited this season could get their chance to impress at Aldershot tonight.

Manager Chris Wilder looks set to give one or two fringe players some valuable game time in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first-round tie – and increase the competition for places in the team.

Competition rules state that teams must field a minimum of six players who started the previous league game.

That gives Wilder scope to give run-outs to some who could do with it, and the Shots may well do the same.

Striker James Constable and midfielder Simon Heslop, who have been playing despite a foot injury and hamstring strain respectively, will probably get a rest.

And United’s manager may want to give players like Mark Creighton, Simon Clist and Sam Deering a go.

The U’s haven’t scored for three games so will be keen to put that right in a contest that is not only decided on the night, but doesn’t go to extra time. If it’s level after 90 minutes, it’s straight to penalties.

But Wilder isn’t exactly panicking.

“It’s not a crisis, is it, let’s be right about it,” he said.

“We went to West Ham last Tuesday and played all right for 93 minutes.

“On Saturday, nobody really came out with plus points, apart from the centre halves.

“But Beano (James Constable) was struggling a bit, and Heslop has had a tight hamstring for a couple of weeks, so maybe they need a rest.”

Clist, who missed only three league games last season, has already missed the first four this campaign, after recovering from a hernia op in the summer.

He said: “It’s good to be back in action again.

“I’ve not played a lot of games, but it’s up to me to do well in training and prove I should be in the team.”

Fellow League Two side Aldershot have won one and drawn three of their first four league games.

Aldershot Tn: (from) Young, Herd, Vincent, Guttridge, Jones, Charles, Little, Harding, Morgan, Straker, Panther, Spencer, Hylton, McGlashan, Small, Halls, Morris, Fortune, Connolly, Clem-ent, Abnett, Stewart, Hyde.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Purkiss, Worley, Wright, Tonkin, Bulman, Clist, Hall, Potter, Midson, Green, Creighton, Deering, Cole, Eastwood, Kinniburgh, Franks, Woodley.