MICHAEL Appleton will give James Roberts the final call to see if he is ready to return from injury for Oxford United today.

The 18-year-old has been out for a month with a hamstring strain, but was back in training last week.

He is in contention for the Boxing Day clash at home to Shrewsbury Town, but Appleton intends to tread carefully with the youngster, who scored three goals in two games before the injury.

The United head coach said: "That will come down to James really because he’s got to be comfortable in his own body and his own mind that the injury is fine.

"Once he is we’ll let him off the leash.

"It would give everyone a lift, he’s a local lad and the fact he did ever so well in his short spell coming into the first team.

"But I don’t want to put him or anyone else at risk, sometimes the decision has to be on the player himself."

United's other injury doubt is over Johnny Mullins, who rolled an ankle in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United.

The centre back is rated as 50/50 to be fit for today's game.

If he is not ready, then Chey Dunkley will make his first start for the club after making his debut as a substitute when replacing Mullins at Victoria Park.