James Constable will lead Oxford United’s attack against Hereford today – and just listen for the roar as his name is announced to fans before the game.

The striker trained with United yesterday after rejecting the chance to speak to arch rivals Swindon on Thursday.

But the transfer speculation about him just will not go away.

Having accepted a bid from Swindon on Thursday, fellow League Two side Crawley claimed yesterday morning that they had an offer for Constable rejected by the U’s.

But United chairman Kelvin Thomas said that this was not the case, and hit out at Crawley boss Steve Evans for his comments about Constable.

Evans had said: “I can confirm we have had offers turned down for both Ryan Stevenson and James Const-able.

“We have spoken to Hearts and Oxford United respectively and we respect their right to turn down the offers we made.

“We are some distance apart in what we offered to what those clubs wanted so we will move on to alternative targets we have identified.”

However, Thomas replied: “No formal bid has ever been lodged by Crawley Town Football Club.

“Therefore, we are very disappointed with comments made by Crawley's manager.”

Constable was back in United colours yesterday at their Roman Way training ground, and the message from boss Chris Wilder ahead of today’s match will be simple: “Get us some goals.”

United have conceded only twice in their last seven games, but have won only three of those matches because of their mis-firing strikers.

Hereford are only two places above the League Two relegation zone, but have the best defensive record away from home in the league.

“We find ourselves with one of the best defensive records in the league, but our goals for column is not good enough, that’s the top and bottom of it,” Wilder said.

Constable has scored just once in eight games, but is still United’s leading scorer.