Oxford City will be without defender Lee Henderson for tomorrow’s trip to Chelmsford City in Vanarama National League South due to a broken ankle.

City finished their Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round match at home to Shortwood United last weekend with ten men after the centre back suffered an avulsion fracture to his ankle, which will keep him sidelined for up to three months.

“It’s a blow because Lee is a big player for us,” said general manager Justin Merritt.

“We’re disappointed because he’s one of the strongest players we have in the air.

“But you have to play the cards you’re dealt. We’ve just come through an unbeaten period in which we were without several big players.

“We’ve got Jose (Lapoujade) and (Alejandro-Adrian) Santiago to come in, which just shows what a strong squad we’ve got.”

The Spanish duo both sustained broken noses in successive matches last month, but have been given the all-clear to return as City face Chelmsford for the second time already this season.

When the two sides met at Marsh Lane in August, the Essex side held City to a draw.

Merritt said: “We felt we should have won.

“But we learned from that first encounter and we’re going to have to play really well if we’re going to come back with the points.”

Meanwhile, winger Jamal Lawrence has returned to Cheltenham Town after struggling for starts.

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Chelmsford City, away): from Walker, Coulson, Lapoujade, Santiago, Del Alamo, Benjamin, King, Isaac, Lafuente, Fleet, Pifarré, Sterling-James, Stonehouse, Arzamendi, Mukendi, McDonagh, Bubb, Pond.