OXFORD United will look to build on their recent momentum tonight – but they will begin their Checkatrade Trophy campaign without Jamie Hanson.

The midfielder began a three-game suspension in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland, after United’s appeal was turned down by the Football Association.

He was among the players boss Karl Robinson was looking to play tonight, when Fulham Under 21s visit the Kassam Stadium in Southern Group F.

The Trophy has a separate disciplinary system, so it was initially thought Hanson could feature.

However, the 22-year-old’s offence – serious foul play – is one of the categories where the suspension, which is served in first team competitive matches (in Sky Bet League One) also applies to non-first team competitive matches.

The Trophy comes under that classification, so Hanson is unavailable, but it will not count as one of his suspended games.

While the fixture will only attract a fraction of the 32,000-strong gate United played in front of on Saturday, there is a determination in the camp to continue a good run.

The U’s had won the two previous games and first-team coach Shaun Derry wants them to keep the hammer down.

He said: “We know that every team would say the league games are the priority, but this is a welcome game for us.

“It comes on the back of three very positive performances – we need it to be four on Tuesday night.

“With Fulham’s under 21s coming we know we’ll have a very different challenge to what we had on Saturday, but we have to take the game to the opposition.

“This has been a kind competition to Oxford United and it would be great to have another cup run.”

While the intention to play Hanson has been scuppered, Robinson will ring the changes elsewhere.

Tony McMahon, Rob Dickie and Luke Garbutt are likely to come into a reshuffled back four.

Further forward, Jon Obika and Sam Smith are expected to be given chances to open their goalscoring accounts for the season.

Fulham’s youngsters were knocked out in the group stage last season and are winless in four games of their Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign.