Team news

Injuries still plague U's Oxford's late challenge for a play-off place continues apace despite a host of injury problems as Macclesfield come to town.

The U's find themselves in seventh place in npower League Two, following an unbeaten run of five games, but Chris Wilder continues to miss several of his key players.

Winger Alfie Potter (broken ankle) is out for the season, with strikers Tom Craddock (knee), Jon-Paul Pittman (hamstring) and defender Tony Capaldi (knee and back) all on the treatment table.

Midfielder Simon Heslop, though, is close to a return following a heel injury, with full-back Andy Whing likely to play through the pain barrier once again having broken his nose against Bristol Rovers.

On-loan forward Mehdi Kerrouche remains an option after missing out in the 2-1 victory over Barnet, but with Scott Rendell and James Constable forging a promising strike partnership, he may have to remain patient.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international defender Mark Connolly is set to make his Macclesfield debut having completed a loan move from Bolton.

George Donnelly and Ben Tomlinson are expected to continue in attack following their successful return from injury in midweek.

The Silkmen went down to their eighth consecutive defeat at Northampton, but Donnelly and Tomlinson marked comebacks to the starting XI following respective calf and thigh injuries with a goal apiece in the 3-2 reverse.

However, manager Gary Simpson hardly saw his injury problems ease at Sixfields as goalkeeper Jose Veiga (thigh) and defender Tony Diagne (hamstring) picked up strains that are expected to keep them out this weekend.

In Veiga's expected absence, Simpson has resigned well-travelled keeper Steve Collis until the end of the season.

Collis spent the first six months of this term at the Moss Rose, making a solitary appearance in the 1-0 Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat to Crewe.

Midfielders Dwayne Mattis and Tom Fisher are ankle injury victims along with defender Paul Morgan, while Morgan's fellow centre-back Nat Brown is targeting Tuesday's home encounter with Plymouth as he recovers from the effects of a back spasm.

Long-term absentees Ross Draper (broken metatarsal) and Lewis Chalmers (hernia) are set to spend time at the National Sport Centre at Lilleshall as they attempt to progress in their recoveries.

Oxford Utd vs Macclesfield

Last modified 18:12 25/02/12

Silkmen earn share of spoils Macclesfield ended their appalling run of eight successive defeats with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Oxford.

Michael Duberry's third own goal in Oxford's past four home games had gives the Silkmen an unexpected lead in the ninth minutes.

The 35-year-old former Chelsea defender looked to be under no real pressure when Matt Hamshaw delivered a free-kick from the right, but planted a thumping header into his own net.

It was five weeks ago that Duberry had made history with his bizarre "imperfect" hat-trick - left-foot, right-foot and header - but with two of the three being own goals.

Macclesfield keeper Richard O'Donnell, who only joined on a 28-day emergency loan from Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, saved well from Lee Holmes' 20-yard drive after James Constable pulled the ball back.

Peter Leven went close with a rasping drive soon after, before the U's levelled three minutes before half-time through Oli Johnson.

The former Norwich midfielder took a touch to beat a defender and drilled a low right-foot shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

The second half became very open, and after O'Donnell saved smartly from Constable, Mark Connolly produced a brilliant last-ditch block to prevent Scott Rendell following up to score.

Constable missed the game's best chance midway through the second half as he headed over from three yards from a Holmes cross following good work by Mehdi Kerrouche.