Oxford City boss Mike Ford will give young striker Felipe Barcelos his Premier Division debut when they travel to Bedford Town on Saturday.

With Lee Steele and Jerome Anderson sidelined with hamstring injuries, on-loan Aldershot midfielder Adam Mekki out with concussion and Jack Ashton missing with a knee ligament injury, Ford has put his faith in Barcelos.

“He played for us against Slough and against Carterton in the Senior Cup (City won 2-1 in the quarter-finals) and did very well for us,” said Ford, whose side are 19th in the table – a point behind fifth from bottom Didcot Town.

“And I’m more than happy to play him again. Last year he came on in leaps and bounds, so I’m looking for him to continue that.”

Ford, who gives a late fitness test to Craig McIllwain (bad back) said he was looking for his side to find some consistency.

He added: “My team needs to realise they have to put on a performamnce for a full game – from the first minute to the 95th minute – because when we do that we are a match for anyone, but when we don’t do the heading, the tackling and the battling, then we look like a bottom four side.

“When we played Brackley our attitude was spot-on and were it not for a referee’s decision (he ruled out a Steele goal) we would have got a draw.

“Since then, Brackley won the next five and their manager will tell you that was one of their toughest games of the season.

“We go to Evesham (City lost 3-0) and it’s only when we are a man down in the second half that we start playing.

“Against Swindon Supermarine (City won 2-1) we were outstanding for 90 minutes and deserved the win. That shows the best and worst of us.

“You can forget about it being my old team, our last game and their last game, I want my team to be out of the blocks quickly and give of their all in every aspect of the game.”

Banbury United give a late fitness test to striker David Stone ahead of the visit of Cirencester Town.

Stone has been troubled by an ankle injury, though the postponement of last weekend’s trip to Hednesford due to a frozen pitch has given him more recovery time. The game has now been re-arranged for March 15.

Jeffrey said: “It was frustrating, because we have been playing well and it disrupted the momentum. But we have to get on with it.

“Cirencester are a hard-working side who play attacking football like us, so it should be a decent game.”

North Leigh are set to give a debut to defender Tom Franklin at home to Cinderford Town after signing hime from Division 1 South & West rivals Abingdon United.

Boss Mark Gee said: “He is a big, strong centre half who knows the league very well.”

North Leigh are without Brian Bowles, who is suspended after being sent off for Old Woodstock Town, with whom he is dual registered.

Abingdon United travel to Wimborne Town.

SATURDAY'S SQUADS Oxford City (v Bedford Tn, away): from Jesion-kowski, Clarke, Savage, McIllwain, Blossom, Ballard, Lyon, Malone, Barcelos, Kington, Faulkner, Dobson, Davis.

Banbury Utd (v Cirencester Tn, home): from Murrell, Stanbridge, Cray, Gordon, Learoyd, Maddox, Coleman, Benjamin, Stone, Martin, Staff, Taylor, Oulton, Cross, McDonald, Buckwell.

North Leigh (v Cinderford Tn, home): from Lonsdale, Posey, Wood, Hole, Franklin, Hopkins, McCabe, Burnell, Sanders, Reardon, Caton, Taylor, Redknap, Futcher, Saunders.