ROSS Jenkins hopes to have a fully fit squad by this time next month at the latest, after niggling injuries ravaged his Oxford City side.

The Hoops have been without many of the players who were instrumental in their promotion to the Vanarama National League at various times this season.

However, the club’s injury list has been getting shorter in recent weeks, with players welcomed back to the fold.

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Hoops head coach Jenkins is targeting the middle of next month as the time to get his whole squad back to full fitness.

The former Watford midfielder said: “Hopefully the back end of December to mid-January, I’d like to think everyone will be fit, they’re the sort of timescales.

“We’ve got a few weeks until everyone’s fully fit, but we’re in a better place than we were for the Bromley game, where we had eight players sat in the stands.

“We can’t be too upset, we’ve got some boys back who are returning and some of them are doing half-sessions, and some are doing one session a week.

“Some are getting on the bench and some are making 20-minute appearances, like Alfie Potter.

“Just to get those bodies around us will be good, but I really don’t want eight injuries again because that was a hard one.

“We’ve got to make sure that full fitness throughout the whole season is probably a priority right now.”

Oxford Mail:

The Hoops have been forced into adding free agents and loan signings to their squad, in order to combat injuries and fitness concerns, but Jenkins is keen to avoid too much activity in the January transfer window.

He said: “Obviously the January window is going to be really important for every club, and everyone’s going to be fishing for the top players on loan.

“We’ve got to make sure we stay fit, so we don’t keep bringing players in and out, and disrupting the squad, but there may be one or two added to us.”

Jenkins’ side return to league action this weekend after their FA Trophy exit at the hands of Chelmsford City.

The Hoops make the trip to Boreham Wood, who sit just three points above them in the table.

Jenkins said: “We know it’ll be an absolute battle. They’ve got some big boys and play some direct football, and make it hard for teams, but we’re going to be on the front foot and we need to make sure we address the first half properly.”