OXFORD City will not be forced to change their style of play by the poor recent weather conditions, according to general manager Justin Merritt.

City earned a reputation as one of the most attractive sides in Vanarama National League South with their early season performances.

But their form has dipped since autumn ticked into winter, with just one league win since the start of November.

That was followed by the postponements of recent fixtures away to Weston-Super-Mare and Maidenhead United, which means City have been out of action since Boxing Day.

Further wet weather this week could also potentially scupper tomorrow’s match at home to Concord Rangers, but if the pitch is deemed playable at Marsh Lane, Merritt won’t be altering his plans to combat the inevitable wet patches.

He said: “The one thing we don’t want to do is get caught playing the way other teams do, because they’re built for it and we’re not.

“Obviously I don’t want them to be naïve and get caught in possession and sometimes you have to go more direct.

“But we’re not going to change our approach, because it works best for us.”

While illness is set to rule out striker Marlon Jackson, the two-week break has allowed City to ease long-term absentees Lee Henderson, Ander Del Alamo and Paul Stonehouse back into training.

Henderson, who has been out of the side since fracturing an ankle in September, has returned to full training, but none of the trio will be ready to feature this weekend.

The break has also allowed City to recover from an uncharacteristic shyness in front of goal which has seen them score just once in their last three league games and Merritt expects his side to be raring to go.

“We really just want to get on with it and kick-start the second half of the season,” Merritt added.

“There’s certainly nothing wrong with having some time to take stock and refocus.

“Other teams haven’t taken full advantage of the fact that we haven’t played.

“There’s no doubt that we’ve had a dip in form, but we’re still fourth in the table and we should take heart from that.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Concord Rgrs, home): from Walker, King, Arzamendi, Benjamin, Coulson, Santiago, Bevans, Lapoujade, Fleet, Lafuente, Isaac, Bubb, McDonagh, Sterling-James, Pifarré.