VICTORY for Oxford City at home to Whitehawk tomorrow could be enough to secure their place in Vanarama National League South for another season, according to caretaker-manager Mark Jones.

City are 12 points clear of the relegation zone and seven points above the Hawks.

Jones believes if his side reach 40 points it will be difficult for the chasing pack to catch up.

“I think three points for us will almost guarantee safety, so we’re looking at it as a really important game,” he said.

“I think the bottom sides will find it very difficult to catch us with nine games to go if we get the win.”

Injuries to midfielder Reece Fleet (ankle) and defender Freddie Grant (foot) mean Jones’s options remain limited as he looks for a reaction to last weekend’s disappointing 3-0 defeat at Weston-super-Mare.

But top-scorer Mike Fondop could return to the starting XI after being on the bench for the last five games, during which time City have scored just four goals.

“There are a couple of players who’ve been very patient and deserve an opportunity in the side,” said Jones.

“Mike Fondop has scored a lot of goals this season.

“But he’s not had a lot of football lately and I think perhaps he needs another chance.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Whitehawk, home): from Hill, Poku, Henderson, Davies, Ngathe, Fondop, Louis, Ngamvoulou, Peake-Pijnen, Niate, Khawaja, Anderson, Carvalho, Forde, Tutton.

OXFORD City caretaker-manager Mark Jones paid tribute to former goalkeeper Mark Scott after he suffered a horrific injury.

Scott featured for City in the 2014-15 season, when Jones was part of Justin Merritt’s coaching set-up.

The goalkeeper, who left the club for Slough Town in the summer of 2015, was operated on at the John Radcliffe Hospital after suffering a broken neck during a game last weekend.

“I hope he’s okay and we certainly wish him all the best,” said Jones.

“Mark was a good goalkeeper for us and he’s done ever so well at Slough.

“I know they rate him highly there.”

Fans have since raised more than £5,000 via an online crowdfunding campaign to support him and his family while he is unable to work.