ALEX MacDonald is confident Oxford United have the quality to stay on track for automatic promotion despite having a depleted squad over the Easter weekend.

Struggling Stevenage visit the Kassam Stadium today, followed by a game at Cambridge United on Monday.

The U’s go into the game second in Sky Bet League Two and needing to maintain their good form to stay clear of the chasing pack.

They face the critical double header without four players – Callum O’Dowda, Jonjoe Kenny, Jordan Evans and AJ George – who are away on international duty.

Even with captain Jake Wright and Sam Long returning to fitness it could force head coach Michael Appleton to dip into the youth team to fill the bench.

But MacDonald backs the remainder of the squad to be good enough to cope.

He said: “I think we’ve got enough, not just in terms of bodies but quality.

“Maybe this time last year if you’d asked me the same question we would have been a bit light, but we have a good squad.

“Longy and Skip are back, which is a massive boost.

“Hopefully with them coming back it won’t take too much of a toll.”

Kenny’s absence, plus doubts over whether his back-up Long could play back-to-back games so soon after recovering from a hip injury, have prompted Appleton to look at alternative options at right back.

MacDonald, who plays higher up the flank, has some experience in the role, if required.

He said: “I played right back for about 20 games with Burnley reserves and really enjoyed it.

“I came on against Norwich in the FA Cup (in 2012) there, so it was something at the time I thought was maybe going to be my position.

“But I ended up getting back up the field.

“If the manager asked me, of course I’d play there in a heartbeat.”

MacDonald’s first goal of the season came against Stevenage, in a 5-1 win last October.

The 25-year-old is expecting a very different game, but is under no illusions just how vital the next four days will be in United’s campaign.

He said: “The Easter period, judging from previous seasons, shapes the rest of your season, so we know how important Friday and Monday are.

“We are just hoping to give two positive performances and hopefully come away with two positive results.”