MARK Jones will be putting a friendship on hold tomorrow when his Oxford City side host Hemel Hempstead Town.

His former assistant Joe Deeney will be in the opposition dugout at Court Place Farm for the first time since taking up the manager’s job at the Hertfordshire club in November.

The duo formed a strong partnership at City and are a good friends.

But it will be business as usual for boss Jones come kick-off.

He said: “Joe was a very popular man in his time with Oxford City.

“We are very good friends, and I can say Joe did a fantastic job for us.

“He was always very hard-working and very committed, and it will be good to welcome him back tomorrow.

“Joe wears his heart on his sleeve and is very passionate for football.

“I was disappointed when he left, but the opportunity to be a manager was too good to turn down for him.

“Whatever the result tomorrow, we will certainly have a drink after the game, because we remain very close friends.”

There will be a couple of other familiar faces in the opposition corner, with former City players Rob Sinclair and Frankie Musonda on the books at Hemel, who are on a three-game unbeaten run in Vanarama National League South.

Jones’s side looked lethargic in their 2-1 defeat at play-off hopefuls Chelmsford City last weekend.

And he is expecting a reaction against Hemel.

Jones said: “Although there wasn’t much in the game last week, I was disappointed with our performance.

“You have to give credit to Chelmsford – they’ve been chasing the play-offs all season and that showed.

“But I just didn’t see enough good performances from my team, we didn’t show enough quality.

“Having said that, our last home display against Dulwich Hamlet (a 4-1 win) was encouraging, and I hope we can replicate that tomorrow.”

Defender Ben Jefford has now had an operation on his ankle injury and Jones is awaiting a prognosis from the operation.

He said: “We wish him all the best in his recovery and hopefully the surgery has been successful.”

Meanwhile, Craig Fasanmade and Tom Carter have been recalled from their loan spells at Thame United and have been added to the matchday squad.

TOMORROW’S TEAM

Oxford City (v Hemel Hempstead Tn, home) from King, Jones, Moore-Azille, Oastler, Ashby, Fleet, Wiltshire, Tshimanga, Thomas-Asante, Case, Self, Bawling, O’Donohue, James, Caro, Fasanmade, Carter.