OXFORD United manager Chris Wilder admits he may need to use quite a few of his squad with two games in three days over New Year.

Tomorrow’s home game against Southend United is followed by a trip to south Devon to face Torquay United on Monday.

And with Jake Wright now fit again, Tom Craddock available after his suspension is at last completed, and others pushing hard for a place in the team, we could see 17 or 18 getting a taste of the action.

“We’ll utilise everybody, I think it’s important that we do that,” he said.

“It’s a heavy workload in terms of the two games and the travel in the three days, but we’re not complaining . . . we just get on with it.

“We’ve got 21 players that are desperate to play and we’re confident that, whoever comes into the side, has enough about them to help us get a result.”

The U’s ended 2010 with three wins on the trot, so are looking to get the new year off to a flier.

And Wilder is hoping that sharpness will return with games, after the enforced lay-off caused understandable rustiness against Macclesfield.

“I think it showed that the team was a little bit off the pace, not playing for over 20, 21 or 22 days was evident,” he said.

“You do your best to try to prepare the side, but you never know how they’re going to come out.

“The performance was OK. but the result was a real good one for us, and we’re looking to improve the performance and get the correct result.”

l OXFORD United’s League Two game against Lincoln at Sincil Bank, postponed on December 11, has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 1 (7.45).

Tickets for the original game are still valid, but anyone who is unable to attend who wants a refund should return their ticket to United’s ticket office by 5.30pm on February 28.

And United’s friendly at Thame United, to mark the official opening of their opponents’ new ASM Stadium, has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 18 (7.30).

FIXTURES

TOMORROW

Barnet v Aldershot, Burton v Shrewsbury, Bury v Macclesfield, Cheltenham v Wyc-ombe, Chesterfield v Stockport, Crewe v Northampton, Gillingham v Stevenage, Hereford v Torquay Utd, Lincoln v Bradford, Morecambe v Accrington, Oxford Utd v Southend, Rotherham v Port Vale.

MONDAY

Accrington v Chesterfield, Aldershot v Hereford, Bradford v Bury, Macclesfield v Rother-ham, Northampton v Lincoln, Port Vale v Burton, Shrewsbury v Crewe, Southend v Cheltenham, Stevenage v Barnet, Stockport v Morecambe, Torquay Utd v Oxford Utd, Wycombe v Gillingham.