OXFORD United striker Nicky Banger will be out of action for a month because of his shoulder injury, writes JON MURRAY

But it could have been even worse for manager Malcolm Shotton, whose squad is already decimated by injuries.

"The good thing is that the collar-bone isn't broken," Shotton said. "Our physio, John Clinkard, says the bone that joins the ligament has popped out, so there's no need for surgery, but he will still need three to four weeks' rest."

Shotton reflected how Banger's injury was symptomatic of the ill-fortune that seems to be going United's way.

"It's just our luck," he said. "He didn't have to go for the ball when he got injured because the whistle had already gone.

-"We scored three good goals on Saturday and our play was excellent, but we seem to be battling against everything at the moment. The ball bounced kindly for Ipswich for a couple of their goals and our injury problems just get worse.

"But I was very pleased with the performance, especially after what happened at Swindon. The players did themselves justice and the crowd were magnificent as well on Saturday.

"They appreciate what we're going through and know that what we're doing with very limited resources is as much as we can do." United are now down to 16 fit professionals and two of those are the goalkeepers, Phil Whitehead and Elliot Jackson. With so many players still in the treatment room, and the youth team players needed for their Southern Junior Floodlit Cup first round tie against Reading at the new Madejski Stadium tonight (7.30pm), Shotton is unable to continue with his plans for a reserve team friendly against a local non-League side.

He had wanted to play the match on Thursday to give another run-out to Argentinian triallists German Tempone and Christian Otero.

Prices for tonight's match at the Madejski Stadium are: adults £4, under 16s and over 65s £2.

United Youth: (from) Simms, Nelson, R Weatherstone, Townsend, Shepheard, Wickens, Davies, Richards, Brennan, D Whitehead, Nix, Hackett, Brooks, McIntosh, Ricketts, Hamp.

UNITED have agreed to a request from Barnet to switch their SE Counties League matches. They will now play at Underhill this Friday (2pm) with the return at Sandford on January 23.

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