Oxford City will be without their giant keeper Jason Mooney for at least two weeks with a serious leg injury.

It means that the 6ft 10in stopper, who is on a season-long loan from League One Wycombe, will miss Saturday's Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division clash with Hitchin Town and Tuesday’s FA Cup second round replay against Redbridge.

It was thought he would play against Redbridge last Saturday, but after he failed to recover in time, veteran Keith McLoughlin took over.

“Mooney won’t be available for us until December 3 when we play against Cirencester in the League or Crawley Town in the Cup,” said Ford.

“He has had an operation to dig out the infection.

“They didn’t stitch it, but packed the wound, so that it can heal from the inside out.

“But Keith is a very calm character and although he didn’t have to do much on Saturday, he kicked well and his handling was very competent. I have no worries about playing him.”

Meanwhile, Ford, whose third-placed side be without the suspended Andy Ballard, said it was vital they beat Hitchin.

He added: “It’s a massive game, because if results go our way we might not have a league game for three weeks.

“We aren’t playing next Saturday because Brackley are in the FA Trophy, so we might not play until December 6 (away to Brackley).

“It’s important we get a win as we could be three or four games behind everyone else.

“I won’t be resting anyone – I will pick the best team and they will just get on with it.”

Banbury United manager Ady Fuller says his side must fly out of the blocks when they entertain Cirencester as they look to banish Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by strugglers Arlesey.

Fuller said: “We were very disappointing and sloppiness cost us the game.

“We played the better football, but we lacked a cutting edge. We weren’t good enough and they deserved to win.

“We now have to bounce back.”

However, they will have to do it without Martin Hutchcox, who is out until the new year with a knee ligament injury, Tommy Kinch, who suffered whiplash injuries in a car crash on Monday, and Ollie Stanbridge (suspended).

Jake Thackeray (groin) faces a late fitness test.

SATURDAY'S SQUADS Oxford City (v Hitchin, home): from McLoughlin, J Clarke, Learoyd, Pond, Blossom, Lyon, Benjamin, Barcelos, Basham, Ashton, Steele, Martin, Fleet, M Clarke, Isaac. Banbury Utd (v Cirencester, home): from Kemp, Williams, Polk, Bailey, Howell, Coleman, Green, Edmonds, Cole, Walker, Woodley, Thackeray.