Oxford United will welcome back Rob Duffy and Phil Trainer with open arms for their FA Cup second-round replay at Southend tonight.

The duo can't come back quickly enough with the U's struggling to score goals, and having few other players to call on both up front and in midfield because of their crippling injury list.

Duffy (pictured), last season's 21-goal top-scorer, has now served his three-game suspension after getting sent off just 22 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Ebbsfleet United on November 17.

And Trainer is back after completing his one-match ban for accumulating five bookings.

However, a further blow to boss Darren Patterson, who lost both Eddie Anaclet and Matt Green to shoulder injuries in the 1-0 defeat at Northwich at the weekend, is that Alex Jeannin will not be available.

It was thought initially that a seven-day rule applied to any suspension for two yellow cards, which led to his sending-off at Northwich, but that rule has now been changed and his suspension takes immediate effect.

Patterson may give thought to bringing ex- Southend trainee Joel Ledgister into the side on the right of midfield to fill the void following Anaclet's injury.

Joel Ledgister made an impact at Victoria Stadium by constantly beating his man, but he will need to improve his crossing.

Southend are in good form at home, but Oxford will be giving it everything they've got, with the winners at home to League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge in the third round on January 5.

Patterson said: "It's a big game for us and we need to be at it. We need the players to show a bit of hunger, as in to pass the ball, that was the biggest problem on Satur- day.

"Commitment-wise we expect them to give that, but in the first half at Northwich there was no-one willing to make things happen rather than let them. We let them happen."

The U's face an odd fortnight before Christmas with the league now forgotten.

It's FA Cup tonight, FA Trophy on Saturday then Setanta Shield on Saturday week.

This evening's clash at Roots Hall, which is expected to attract a gate of just under 5,000, is the biggest of the thre, by some way, but the U's boss says he will not treat the other competitions lightly, although squad members who have not played many first-team games look certain to be given a chance in the less important cup ties.

"I'm going into each and every game to win it," he stressed. "The squad will get the chance, if they work hard enough and do well enough, it's as simple as that.

"We've got three bodies coming back this week. Obviously, Duffy will be available, Trainer will be available and (Carl) Pettefer will be back for next Saturday."

Southend's players are in buoyant mood after two successive home wins, 4-1 against Huddersfield and then 2-1 against Swindon on Saturday when they came from behind and snatched victory in terrible conditions thanks to Mark Gower's 94th-minute clincher.

Said Shrimpers boss Steve Tilson: "We've won two home games in a row and it would be nice to go out and make it three.

"We're full of confidence, but it certainly won't be an easy game. Oxford will be up for it and we saw what they could do at their place."

Despite being up against non-League opposition, Tilson says he will not be tempted into changing the team any more than he has to, or bringing in any fringe players.

"It's the FA Cup, it's a big cup to be involved in," he said.

There are two enforced changes in the Southend line-up.

Huddersfield will not let on-loan striker Leon Clarke play, so he will be replaced by Charlie MacDonald, while Adam Barrett has a rib injury and Garry Richards will take his place.

HOW THEY LINE-UP Southend Utd: (probable) Collis, Hunt, P Clarke, Richards, Hammell, McCormack, Maher, Bailey, Gower, Morgan, MacDonald. Subs: Francis, Flahavan, Hooper, Moussa, Harrold.

Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Clarke, Quinn, Foster, Day, Ledgister, Hutchinson, Trainer, Duffy, Barnes, Twigg, Corcoran, Odubade, Worrall, Fisher, Posey.