SIMON Eastwood is hoping his injury worries for this season are out of the way as the goalkeeper is poised to return at Elland Road tomorrow.

The 28-year-old did not miss a minute of Oxford United’s 62 competitive games last season, but has been in the treatment room this month.

Eastwood needed six stitches in his left thigh following a collision with Henrik Dalsgaard early on in the friendly against Brentford last week.

Saturday’s game with Birmingham City came too soon for United’s No 1, but he is on track to face Leeds United.

Eastwood said: “It was quite a deep gash from a stud on the follow through and I had to have six stitches straight after.

“It’s has healed now and hopefully it will be fine for the weekend.

“It’s a strange one because it felt like I could train on it, but you don’t want to keep diving on it and opening it up.

“You want to get on with it, but if there’s a time for this to come then this is the best.

“I want to play the game because it puts you in good stead for the week after.

“The season’s not far away now and it’s something everyone is looking forward to.”

Leeds are the fifth successive Sky Bet Championship side United have faced in preparation for the new campaign.

It has been a tough test, winning and drawing one game each before two home defeats, but Pep Clotet’s side have been encouraged with the performances.

And Eastwood believes the U’s are well on track to hit the ground running on August 5.

He said: “I think it’s been a good pre-season so far.

“I don’t think anybody is too fussed about the results, it’s just about the fitness and getting the shape and organisation, so we’re ready for Oldham.

“This pre-season we’ve had a lot of hard friendlies against Championship clubs, but hopefully that will stand us in good stead for the season.”

Elsewhere, Eastwood’s young goalkeeping colleague, Jack Stevens, is on trial with Tamworth.

The 19-year-old played 90 minutes as the Vanarama National North side beat Hednesford Town 1-0 on Tuesday.

Tamworth host an Aston Villa XI this evening.