Vinny Mukendi is the man to replace top-scorer Bradley Bubb as Oxford City host Whitehawk tomorrow afternoon in Vanarama National League South, according to general manager Justin Merritt.

Bubb was forced off with a tight hamstring shortly after scoring his fifth goal of the season in Monday’s 6-0 victory at Truro City, but with replacement Mukendi going on to net a hat-trick the City boss is confident Bubb’s absence won’t affect the team.

“Vinny took his goals very well, but his general play was also very good,” said Merritt.

“In the first couple of games he played in, because he’s a big lad I think the temptation was to try and go direct to him.

“But he’s actually a very good player and that showed on Monday, because we didn’t have to change the way we played when he came on.”

And despite the absence of their leading goalscorer this weekend, City have no shortage of forward options following the arrival of striker Conor McDonagh from Didcot Town.

Merritt added: “I’ve worked with Conor before when we won the Hellenic League championship with the Nomads.

“He scored 46 goals in that season, so he’s a proven goalscorer.

“It may take him a couple of weeks to get up to the speed of this division, but I think he’s a quality player who will benefit from playing in a higher league.

“He’s a good Oxford lad as well, so it shows that we will promote local talent.

We’re not just going to Spain or other clubs for our recruitment.”

Winger Kynan Isaac is expected to return from a dead leg, but City are without defender Jose Lapoujade with a suspected broken nose sustained at Truro and captain Darren Pond due to a back injury.

Merritt feels their absence will create opportunities for other players who have yet to play this season.

He said: “We’ve got Paul Stonehouse coming back into the side and he was manager’s player of the year last season.

“I have absolutely no problems with any of the players coming back in, because they’re all good players.

“At the moment lots of people are getting their chance in the team and they’ve got to take that chance and try to stay in the team, which can only be a good thing.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Whitehawk, home): from Walker, Coulson, Del Alamo, Henderson, Santiago, Benjamin, King, Isaac, Lafuente, Fleet, Pifarré, Lawrence, SterlingJames, Stonehouse, Arzamendi, Mukendi, McDonagh