OXFORD City’s two-week break is just what they needed to help turn their season around, according to general manager Justin Merritt.

A refreshed City return to action tomorrow at home to East Thurrock United, having found themselves with no match last week due to their early exit from the Emirates FA Cup.

And Merritt believes the lay-off has allowed his side to refocus on the task of getting themselves away from the foot of the Vanarama National League South table.

“It’s given everyone a chance to take stock,” he said.

“We had the opportunity to organise another game.

“But it’s been a long hard slog and we thought the players would benefit from some time off.

“We’re going to work them really hard between now and Christmas to turn things around.

“At that point we’ll have to assess where we are and see what we can do, because obviously we’ve got a lot of loanees who are due to go back at that time.”

Five of those – Jack Stevens, Robbie Cundy, Jonny Giles, Josh Ashby and James Roberts – joined from neighbours Oxford United, and should all feature with Merritt having a full squad to choose from.

City find themselves just one place off the bottom of the table following a run of five games without victory.

But while the City boss admitted their position is a concern, he believes that a win tomorrow would have his side looking upwards again.

“Nobody likes being down there and it does add pressure,” Merritt said.

“But we are where we are for a reason and that’s because we’ve not been good enough.

“The table is very tight around where we are and a couple of victories will make things feel a lot better.

“It’s important that we don’t panic, because I believe we will turn the corner.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v East Thurrock Utd, home): from Stevens, Grant, Poku, Ashby, Henderson, Cundy, Isaac, Fleet, Ofosu, Davies, Ngathe, Patterson, Winters, Giles, Fondop, MacAuley, Hunte, West, Roberts.