York City face their biggest game of the season so far against current runaway Blue Square Premier leaders Oxford United at KitKat Crescent this weekend.
The Minstermen surrendered their unbeaten ten-game run at Salisbury City last week, but still remain undefeated on their own home ground this season. Martin Foyle's side also outplayed their latest opponents for long stages on the opening day of the campaign, where they actually led through Richard Brodie before unluckily going down to a couple of very late goals at the Kassam Stadium.
Midfielder Andy Ferrell returns to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, which should in turn allow James Meredith to reclaim the left-back berth. That would leave Danny Parslow, Djoumin Sangare and the recently recalled David McGurk contesting the two central defensive positions.
About Ferrell's expected return, Foyle told the Press: “I think he has the ability to unlock a defence and score the odd goal.
“He’s always had a defensive role in the past but we have pushed him further forward than most people have done in his career and he’s responded well.”
Otherwise, on loan Oxford defender Chris Carruthers has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out at Salisbury, but won't be considered as originally agreed between the two clubs.
Following the visit of Chris Wilder's league leaders, York next travel to Luton Town on Tuesday, and Foyle added: “These are our hardest two games of the season but, as a player, I would rather play those kind of matches.
“We have to be mentally switched on against Oxford and at Luton, who will be under pressure at home.
“If we are, we can take points off both of them. Tomorrow will be a great game for us to bounce back from after the end of our unbeaten run at Salisbury.”
Oxford's eleven-goal top scorer James Constable has recovered after taking a kick on the knee in their recent 5-0 romp against Grays Athletic.
That will probably once again restrict former Histon striker Jack Midson to a place on the substitutes bench, where he will likely be joined by Ross Perry, who missed out last week as he was away on international duty with the Scotland Under-21 squad.
Teenage midfielder Sam Deering also comes back into contention following a recent loan spell at Newport County, while Billy Turley (calf), Alfie Potter (flu) and Marcus Kelly (toe) are confirmed absentees.
York City (probable): Ingham, Purkiss, Sangare, Parslow, Meredith, Lawless, Mackin, Barrett, Ferrell, Brodie, Rankine
subs: Smith, McGurk, Pacquette, Nelthorpe, McWilliams
Oxford United (probable): Clarke, Chapman, Creighton, Foster, Kinniburgh, Clist, Bullman, Murray, Green, Constable, Cook
subs: Batt, Day, Midson, Sandwith, Perry
Ref: M. Brown (East Yorkshire)
Kick-off: 3pm
