OXFORD City general manager Justin Merritt believes his squad is strong enough to cope with the loss of captain Scott Davies as they travel to in-form Dartford tomorrow in Vanarama National League South.

The City skipper starts a three-match suspension this weekend after being dismissed late on in their frustrating goalless draw at home to Weston-Super-Mare six days ago.

“He is a big loss on and off the pitch,” Merritt admitted.

“But these things happen in football and you just have to deal with it.

“We have a strong squad, so when one player misses out it means an opportunity for someone else.

“The players we’ve got here are top class at this level, whichever team we put out.”

That opportunity won’t fall to Louie Soares, however, with the midfielder this week signing for Hungerford Town on a permanent basis following the conclusion of his 28-day loan.

Godfrey Poku, who missed out last weekend after being involved in a traffic incident on his way to the ground, could return to fill the void.

But while City may be blessed with options in midfield, many of their problems in recent weeks have come at the top of the pitch.

Last weekend’s 0-0 draw was the third time in four games City have failed to find the net and Merritt admitted his side’s profligacy had left him scratching his head.

He said: “It’s frustrating because they’re doing it in training, but for some reason it’s just not happening in the league.

“I’d be a lot more concerned if we weren’t creating anything, but obviously we need to be putting those chances away.”

City’s hosts have had no such problems, coming into the match on the back of eight straight victories in all competitions – and 21 goals scored.

“We know we’re the underdogs,” Merritt said.

“Dartford are obviously a very good side and there’s a reason they’ve won eight in a row.

“It’s a similar situation to when we went down to Poole a few weeks ago (a 3-1 win), where no one expected us to get a result.

“But we raised our game and I think we took them by surprise.”

Winger Shaun MacAuley is City’s only injury doubt, with a knee problem keeping him out of the last two matches.

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Dartford, away): from Stevens, Grant, Poku, Ashby, Henderson, Cundy, Isaac, Fleet, Ofosu, Ngathe, Patterson, Winters, Giles, Fondop, MacAuley, Hunte, West, Roberts, Louis.