OXFORD United boss Darren Patterson is confident his side can cope with the Blue Square Premier's leading scorer Stuart Fleetwood when they travel to Forest Green Rovers tomorrow.

The former Morecambe marksman has struck 30 goals this season, but is yet to find the net in 2008 - a drought that Patterson is keen to extend.

Fleetwood's barren run has extended to ten games, which is largely down to losing striking partner Mark Beesley, who left to join Cambridge in January.

While Beesley has gone from strength to strength, Fleetwood's goals have dried up, and both he and his club are now probably wondering whether rejecting a £200,000 move to Crewe in January was the right decision.

With the goals drying up for Fleetwood, who was also disrupted by a flu bug at the start of the year, the Gloucestershire outfit have gone from chasing hard for the play-offs to now looking more realistically for a top half of the table finish.

"We have spoken about Stuart Fleetwood," said Patterson.

"Since he moved to Forest Green he has been brilliant and he should be complimented. But we have no special plans for him.

"We will just focus on their overall strengths and weaknesses, like we do with all our opponents."

Patterson is anxious for his players to be at the top of their game, despite a long lay-off. It is two weeks since United beat Droylsden.

"It can be a hindrance, but we feel it has helped us," Patterson added.

"We have been able to get players who were injured back. The players have worked hard, so hopefully there will be no let up.

"We played last Friday and again on Tuesday (at Witney United) so fitness won't be a problem."

Patterson said there could be another new arrival in time for Saturday's trip to Gloucestershire, though he wouldn't reveal his identity.