Armand Gnanduillet is available to make his Oxford United debut against Morecambe tonight after joining on loan until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old striker finalised the move from Chesterfield at his parent club yesterday and will link up with his new teammates for the first time ahead of the Shrimps clash at the Kassam Stadium.

He will provide competition for Patrick Hoban up front, while also giving United strength in depth – with top-scorer Danny Hylton one booking away from a two-game suspension.

Michael Appleton, United’s head coach said: “He made a big impression last year when Chesterfield won this division and he has been in and around their squad for most of this season.

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“Armand is a big lad, but he is mobile as well and gives defenders a lot of problems.

“He gives us something different at the top of the pitch and we are pleased to have him here with us.”

Gnanduillet scored six goals in the Spireites’ title-winning side last season and has featured 23 times this term in a side on the fringes of the Sky Bet League One play-off places.

The French-born Ivory Coast Under 20 international has five goals in this campaign, including a brace during a four-game loan spell in League Two at Tranmere Rovers during the autumn.

With Andy Whing and Will Hoskins fit and available, United have no injury worries going into tonight’s contest.

Appleton’s men expended a lot of energy in drawing 0-0 at Portsmouth on Saturday, but the head coach does not believe there is a need to freshen the side up.

He said: “I preferred to play Saturday-Tuesday throughout the season and not do so much training.

“I think if you prepare properly before and after games I can’t see it being too much of an issue, certainly for at least an hour of the game.

“If there’s a situation where someone is tiring rapidly then we’ve got good players to go in and change them.

“Fatigue is a mindset, it’s nothing to do with how you’re feeling physically.

“I think the players will go into the game in the right mindset, so we certainly won’t be using that as an excuse.”

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley hinted he was considering making changes in the wake of Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat against Cambridge United.

With the exception of goalkeeper Barry Roche, sidelined with a long-term hip injury since October, the Shrimps have no fitness worries.

TONIGHT’S SQUADS

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, MacDonald, Collins, Ruffels, O’Dowda, Hylton, Hoban, Roberts, Hoskins, Rasulo, Roofe, Rose, Long, Whing, Dunkley, Ashdown, Gnanduillet.

Morecambe: from Arestidou, Beeley, Parrish, Edwards, Hughes, Devitt, Wilson, Kenyon, Williams, Goodall, Fleming, Redshaw, Ellison, Stewart, Wright, McGowan, Amond, Drummond, Mullin.