OXFORD United boss Chris Wilder has lost patience with players who have not produced over the last fortnight.

Changes seem certain for tomorrow’s npower League Two game at sixth-placed Port Vale, as the U’s attempt to get their play-off push up and running again after three straight defeats.

James Constable, Asa Hall, Simon Heslop and Damian Batt played for the reserves , in a 2-0 victory over Colchester Res at Didcot on Wednesday night.

Players are often given a game in the reserves if they are not going to start in the first team at the weekend.

However, other factors can also come into play, such as trying to boost players’ confidence, or getting them match-sharp.

Nevertheless, Jack Midson, Alfie Potter, Simon Hackney, Simon Clist, Josh Payne and Ben Purkiss all have a chance of a starting role.

Steve Kinniburgh, is guaranteed to play – taking over from the suspended Anthony Tonkin at left back.

Wilder (pictured) says some players have waited patiently for their opportunity.

“We’ve got a squad of 20-21 players, it’s not a first-team and reserve team as such, they’re all first-team players,” he said.

“And if I’m on the outside and the team’s lost three games, then I would expect to be pushing and to be knocking on the manager’s door.

“Maybe it is an opportunity for players to come in and prove what they are about.

“They’ve waited patiently . . . I’ve given the team three games.

“I think they’ve done all right in the three games in terms of how they’ve played, but the bottom line is we’ve not picked up any points.

“We’ve had a performance where we’ve absolutely smashed Hereford all over the place and not got what we deserved, two own-goals at Lincoln, a sending-off and a 95th-minute goal against us at Stockport.

“We’ve certainly not performed as I would have liked us to.”

Wilder went on to say that if others are given chance to shine, it is up to them to make the most of it.

“It was a massively frustrating week for us all, for everybody involved with the football club, especially the supporters,” he said.

“You can say things have gone against us, but the bottom line is we’ve not picked up any results in that period, so there’s players that should quite rightly be knocking on my door.

“And if they get the opportunity, they’ve got to take it.

“We did what we did on Wednesday night for various reasons.

“Some might have needed to get their confidence back up, some needed a game to sharpen themselves up a little bit.

“There’s a possibility that we might make changes for Saturday, and all those things will be taken into consideration.”