BANBURY United boss Billy Jeffrey has stepped up his search for a striker after Scott Cross was ruled out for several weeks with an ankle injury.

With Nabil Sharif back at Rushden after his three-month loan ended, and Jason Taylor (knee injury) and Henry Rose (illness) both out it leaves them without a recognised frontman for tomorrow’s visit of Leamington in the Premier Division “We have no strikers,” said Jeffrey.

“I’ve been on the phone all week trying to get some people in for the weekend.”

Cross was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle during Tuesday’s Red Insure Cup loss at Hednesford.

It was thought he had suffered a serious injury, but an x-ray revealed no break.

“It was a bad challenge. We thought he had broken it,” said Jeffrey.

“It was just bad bruising, but he’s still going to be out for at least a few weeks.”

With defender Aynsley McDonald recalled by Rushden, Jeffrey has signed Henry Owen on loan from Oxford United.

David Staff should be back after a hamstring injury.

Didcot Town are set to sign keeper Steve Smith from Aylesbury and defender James Organ from Abingdon United ahead of the home game against Cambridge City.

They will be added if the paperwork arrives in time.

Boss Stuart Peace said: “Steve will provide competition for Sam Warrell, while Organ will give us balance on our left side.”

Alex Stanley (calf) and Michael Alexis (hip) are doubts, while Jordan Tabor is banned.

Oxford City give a late fitness test to Andy Ballard (ankle) for their home game against Chippenham.

Boss Mike Ford, whose side have lost only once in their last seven games, said: “Chippenham are a good side who made the play-offs last season.

“Hopefully, the new-found confidence will mean we can get something out of the game.

“That’s two clean sheets and conceded one goal in our last three games, so we are getting it right at the back.

“Our new keeper Jakub Jesionkowski has added some stability.”

Defender Craig McIllwain is out (work).

Saturday's squads Banbury Utd (v Leamington, home): from from Murrell, Stanbridge, Owen, Gordon, Learoyd, Farquharson, Cole-man, Benjamin, Taylor, Staff, Martin, Oulton, Cray.

Didcot Tn (v Cambridge City, home): from Warrell, Heapy, A Williams, Gunn, M Williams, Alexis, Huggins, Connolly, Griffin, Lawrence, Bartley, Longford, Osborne-Ricketts, Ramos.

Oxford City (v Chippenham, home): fromJesionkowski, Ballard, Clarke, Blossom, Savage, Kington, Malone, Morris, Janes, Lyon, Pritchard, Steele, Faulkner.