Oxford United boss Malcolm Shotton says he is "moving players around" for today's Division 1 game against Grimsby at the Manor Ground - but he will not throw £475,000 signing Dean Windass into the attack again.

Shotton gambled by doing just that in the last home league game against Wolves in the hope that he would get them a goal, but the move didn't come off.

"We're reluctant to lose Dean's qualities in other areas and he's more than capable of running on to things and getting goals for us from midfield," said Shotton.

It's expected that either Nicky Banger or Simon Weatherstone, if he proves his fitness after shaking off an ankle injury, will partner Matt Murphy up front, leaving Windass to try and open up a Mariners defence which has conceded only one goal in five games.

"They've only let one in but they've not scored many either," Shotton reflected. "It's going to be a hard game for us, we know that, but in this division they're all hard."

At the opposite end of the field, in Grimsby's attack, former Oxford United forward Lee Nogan will probably be partnered by Lee Ashcroft, a £500,000 signing from Preston.

Nogan has fond memories of his time in Oxford and said: "I went there for a two-week trial when I was 16 and spent six years there, four as a pro. The place just brings back happy memories. They gave me my first start in professional football."

Under then manager Maurice Evans and coach David Fogg, Cardiff-born Nogan was pushed quickly on to the soccer stage, making 64 appearances, scoring ten goals.

And since he's been back he's done well.

"I don't think I've come away from there having lost before, but it will be a difficult game," he said.

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