While the snow has been nothing but a pain for almost everbody, one Oxford United player is relieved that the white stuff arrived.

Defender Jake Wright was ruled out for between six and eight weeks when it was discovered he had broken a metatarsal.

But having expected to miss between eight and ten matches, the former Brighton defender is set to return to United’s back line against Macclesfield at the Kassam Stadium today – having missed just one game.

Wright limped out of United’s 2-1 victory at League Two table-toppers Chesterfield on November 23.

And after being assessed by medical staff later that week, he was thought likely to be out until mid to late January.

Having missed the start of the season through a back injury, and then, after he did return to first-team action, being sent off in the defeat at Bradford, Wright has endured a stop-start season.

But after recovering quicker than expected, he is set to line-up alongside loanee Ben Futcher in defence today.

Tom Craddock may finally serve his one-match ban, meaning James Constable is likely to come back into the side in attack.

United are on a run of two successive wins, though that is becoming an increasingly distant memory as they last played on December 4.

Boxing Day marked the second anniversary of boss Chris Wilder’s reign at the club and all three festive occasions ultimately proved frustrating.

His first match as U’s boss was a 2-1 defeat at Salisbury on December 26 when Sam Deering broke his leg, and on the last two Boxing Days, the games have been called off.

As he starts his third year in charge, he told the club’s website: “I have some great memories at this club and I hope to have a lot more.”

Macclesfield have not played since December 11, when they lost 4-2 at home to Gillingham.

United will be desperate for revenge after losing 3-2 at Moss Rose earlier this season, having led 2-0 at half-time.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Worley, Futcher, Kinniburgh, Heslop, Wotton, Clist, Potter, Maclean, Constable, Wright, Hall, Payne, Green, Purkiss, Tonkin, Eastwood, Gaughan.

Macclesfield: (from) Veiga, Morgan, Nsiala, Reid, Bencherif, Draper, Bolland, Sinclair, Barnett, Mukendi, Hamshaw, Lowe, Butcher, Cudworth, Daniel, Wedgbury.