Heslop issues Oxford UInited plea (From Oxford Mail)

Heslop issues Oxford UInited plea

8:20am Saturday 4th September 2010 in

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RETURNING midfielder Simon Heslop says Ox-ford United need a positive reaction against Morecambe at the Kassam Stadium today.

“Accrington was probably the poorest we’ve been so far this season, so we need a reaction from that,” said the former Barnsley player referring to last week’s goalless draw in npower League Two.

He is one of three key players back in the team after missing the midweek Johnstone’s Paint Trophy game at Aldershot.

Also back are centre forward James Constable and midfielder Asa Hall, while new striker Tom Craddock comes in for his debut.

Both Oxford and Morecambe are looking for their first league win of the season, and Heslop, who knows Craddock from their time together while he was on loan at Kenilworth Road last season, believes three points are just around the corner.

“We need to get off the mark,” he said. “Saturday is massive for us and hopefully, if we do get that first win, we can kick on and get a few more.

“It’s just a matter of time before we get that first win, I think.”

He added: “I played with Tommy last year, the last couple of months at Luton – he’s a good player.

“He’s a very intelligent player, good on the ball and will play other people in, so he’ll get quite a few assists as well as goals.

“It’s always nice to bring good players into the squad.”

Heslop missed the Aldershot game with a hamstring strain.

“I think it was fatigue, playing a couple of games a week for two or three weeks,” he said.

Manager Chris Wilder said: “Heslop, Beano (James Constable) and Hall are all straight back in.

“They’ve been important players for us at the start of the season, and we had to look after them – two were carrying injuries, and Asa had done a lot of work.

“We changed it around on Tuesday and obviously the cohesion wasn’t great with the changes that we made, but these three will automatically come back into the fold, and Tom Craddock comes in as well.”

Loanee Josh Payne could also make his home debut.

Craddock is looking forward to his first appearance for the U’s.

Asked what kind of forward he is, he replied: “I like to get the ball to feet and make openings, I like to get in behind defenders as well.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a hustling-bustling target man, that’s not really my game, but hopefully I can bring other aspects of my game to the team, and I work hard, so hopefully I can help the team be successful.”

Morecambe are hoping goalkeeper Barry Roche is fit, despite coming off after eight minutes of their 1-0 loss at Macclesfield in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with a recurrence of a ligament injury.