Centre forward Julian Alsop is set for a shock recall to the Oxford United side in today's last hurrah against Rochdale.

The Division 3 match at the Kassam Stadium is effectively a 'dead rubber' with United no longer able to reach the play-offs, and Dale safe from relegation.

Manager Graham Rix has controversially not played Alsop in any of his starting line-ups so far.

But he may be ready to give a strong indication that he considers the former Cheltenham Town striker to be a big part of his plans next year by playing him in United's final game of the season.

It's understood that he has asked Alsop to lose two stone - and the player, who has admitted that he is overweight, has responded.

And with leading scorer Steve Basham also recovering from his hamstring injury, and able to train this week, there's a chance of United's old front two resuming their partnership.

Rix said: "I'm really chuffed with what Julian has done. We had a real heart-to-heart, I laid down a challenge to him and he's doing really well."

Although Rix has appeared reluctant to play with a target man as such, he is also aware of the value of a big centre forward to get on the end of crosses from wingers, providing that the centre forward is mobile as well.

He played in the Arsenal side with 6ft 4in Niall Quinn, often supplying crosses to the Republic of Ireland international.

"Julian's been accepting in his head that he's a hammer thrower, but he's more than that. His technical ability is quite good and I've been trying to show him."

Ironically, this could be a match in which Alsop plays, but without an orthodox right winger as Chris Hackett is rated very doubtful with a knee injury.

Dean Whitehead, who will be presented with the supporters' player of the year trophy, could move to the right flank if Hackett is out. Paul Wanless and Rob Quinn have been added to the squad.

Andy Woodman is also struggling with a virus, so Simon Cox is favourite to continue in goal.

Andy Crosby returns to the defence following his one-game ban, and takes the captain's armband back from Whitehead, but Matt Robinson is again ruled out.

Even though there is nothing riding on the match, Rix wants the U's to finish the season on a high.

"I'm looking for a win," he said. "I'll be picking a team to try and win a game, we owe it to the fans to win a game and the boys deserve it. They've worked really hard.

"It would give everyone a huge boost and would give people confidence in what we're trying to do."

Eighteen-year-old Tom Winters is included in United's squad for the first time.

The Banbury-based youngster has impressed in the youth team and reserves and could make the bench for the first time.

Rochdale will again be without centre forward Grant Holt (dead leg), so Lee McEvilly is set to continue on his own up front in a 4-5-1 formation.

Oxford Utd: (from) Cox, McNiven, Crosby, McCarthy, Brown, Whitehead, Wanless, Hunt, Pitt, Alsop, Basham, Ashton, Quinn, Hackett, Louis, Steele, Rawle, Omoyinmi, Winters.

Rochdale: (from) Edwards, Evans, Grffiths, Burgess, Smith, Bertos, McClare, Jones, Warner, Redfearn, McEvilly, Townson, Gilks, Burgess, Doughty, Patterson, McCourt. Garner made an offer by United Adam Garner has been offered a six-month deal to try to show he is good enough for Oxford United's first team.

Josias Carbon and Matt Brandish have been released, while Carbon has been trying his luck with non-League Slough.

For several other United players today's game against Rochdale could be their last for the club.

But manager Graham Rix will not tell them who is being released, and who will get new deals, until next week.

"Next week we'll be in training and we'll be telling them then," he said.