Oxford United’s trip to Accrington Stanley on Saturday (Feb 11) is already in doubt.

The pitch at the Crown Ground is rock hard at the moment, and unless temperatures are better than forecast, it looks as though the U’s could go another weekend without a match.

The club have already planned to look at the pitch on Friday morning to see what chance the game has of going ahead – and are hoping to be in a position to make a decision before United’s team coach sets off for the north west that day.

“It’s obviously very cold at the moment,” an Accrington spokesperson said.

“It is forecast for some rain to arrive, so we will have to wait and see if it does, and whether the temperature picks up.

“We are going to look at the pitch on Friday morning to see what it is like and should know a lot more then.”

Meanwhile, United have rearranged their game against Barnet that fell to the weather last weekend.

The npower League Two match will now take place at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday, February 21 (7.45).

* UNITED have offered eight players from their under 16 side places on two-year scholarships/apprenticeships.

Josh Ashby (midfield), James Clarke (midfield), Gregg Hackett (winger/ striker), Jacob Hughes (winger/striker), Sam Humphries (midfield), Conor Ingram (striker), Duran Martin (midfield) and Jermaine Udumaga (midfield) have all been offered deals.

Les Taylor, United’s head of youth, said: “Decisions have been very difficult because our under 16 squad have performed to a very high standard.”