Morecambe vs Oxford United - Morecambe struggling at full-back for Oxford clash

Posted Friday, February 12, 2016 by PA

Morecambe look set to be without full-backs Shaun Beeley and Laurence Wilson for their League Two clash with high-fliers Oxford.

Beeley missed last weekend's defeat by Mansfield with a thigh problem and toe infection, while Wilson also sat out the game after jarring his knee in training.

Defender Aaron McGowan will definitely miss out but is close to a return from the hamstring problem that has kept him sidelined since December.

Manager Jim Bentley said in the Lancashire Evening Post: "McGowan's making good progress and we're hoping he'll be back in full-time training next week, maybe even at the end of this week."

Oxford boss Michael Appleton has backed his promotion hopefuls to deal with a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks.

The U's sit third in League Two and will play seven games in three weeks, with no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Morecambe.

With plenty of games to come it is a test of Oxford's promotion prospects and Appleton, who could include Canice Carroll in his squad for the first time on Saturday, thinks his players can cope.

"I think the players and staff are very good at that. Sometimes it takes a couple of hours to get it out of your system but you have to move on quickly. Games are coming thick and fast and we have to just keep picking up points," he told Yellows Player.