Deane Smalley and James Constable will start together up front for the first time this season when Scunthorpe United visit tomorrow.

 Oxford United will be forced to make one change from the 3-2 defeat to Plymouth on Boxing Day, with Dave Kitson starting a two-game ban for picking up ten yellow cards.

Smalley has not started since the 3-1 win at Mansfield in November, where he picked up a groin injury.

But after featuring as a substitute in the last five U’s games, the striker is ready to replace Kitson and play up front with Constable, nicknamed Beano.

U’s boss Chris Wilder said: “Deane comes into the team, he’s played with Constable enough times and we expect to be on the front foot again.”

Scunthorpe also have a key player banned, with Sam Winnall, the division’s joint top scorer, was sent off after scoring twice in the 2-2 draw at Bury on Thursday.

His most likely replacement, Matthew Godden, picked up an ankle injury late one.

It leaves Russ Wilcox, who has collected 14 points from six games since Brian Laws was sacked, with a selection headache.

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Hunt, Mullins, Wright, Newey, Williams, Hall, Rose, Rigg, Smalley, Constable, Marsh, O’Dowda, Ruffels, Davies, Raynes, Long, Crocombe Scunthorpe: from Slocombe, Ribeiro, Mirfin, Canavan, Nolan, Hawkridge, Syers, McAllister, Williams, Burton, Godden, Severn, Boyce, Esajas, Waterfall, Iwelumo, Adelakun, Spencer.