By Jon Murray JAMIE Cook and Steve Davis are set to return to Oxford United's starting line-up for the Division 2 game against Bournemouth at Dean Court tomorrow.

Cook will play in attack because Steve Anthrobus is serving a one-match suspension, while Davis looks likely to come in as the right-sided central defender in place of teenager Ross Weatherstone.

"Steve has been back in training this week and looks ready to come back," said boss Mickey Lewis. "He's played well when he's been in. Ross has done brilliantly, but he's still only 18 and he had three tough games last week."

Davis will be eager to cement his place in the side for United's next away game, the December 28 visit to Burnley, where he spent five happy years.

And he will also be needed should Oxford get past Nottingham Forest in next Tuesday's FA Cup replay, because Mark Watson is on international duty with Canada at the time of the scheduled fourth-round clash with Chelsea. Lewis has already said that 20-year-old Cook deserves his chance and it's now up to him to try to take it.

And Cook responded: "I just want a good run in the team. It takes three or four games to get into it but Mickey Lewis is very fair. I played some good games under Malcolm Shotton and he dropped me."

Apart from the Cook and Davis changes, it's expected to be much the same team that United fielded in their FA Cup third-round tie at the City Ground.

And that will mean Paul Powell - despite his classy equaliser which made it three goals in two games - probably having to make do with being on the bench once again, because of the impressive form of Scottish defender Neil McGowan.

United are defending a proud 11-game unbeaten run but this will be another tough test for them. Bournemouth will be out to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Notts County and they should have right back Neil Young available after a one-match suspension, if he has shaken off a knee injury.

UNITED'S home League game with Preston, due to be held on December 11 but postponed due to FA Cup commitments, has been re-arranged for February 1 (7.45).

Story date: Friday 17 December

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