MICHAEL Appleton has called on Oxford United to “fight for their lives” as they look to get back on track tonight despite facing their worst injury problems of the season.

Defeat to Luton Town on Saturday allowed United’s promotion rivals to gain ground and anything other than a win at Newport County this evening could see them drop out of the top three for the first time since October.

But they will head to Wales without several key players.

Wingers Alex MacDonald and Callum O’Dowda will miss their second game with tonsillitis, joining injured trio Ryan Taylor, Joe Skarz and Sam Long.

And there are also doubts over top-scorer Kemar Roofe and key midfielder John Lundstram, who have both picked up ankle injuries.

The timing could hardly be worse, with automatic promotion on the line but Appleton’s focus is on inspiring those who are fit to put on a performance.

He said: “We have to fight for our lives over the next four or five days and give people an opportunity to recover from illness and injury and see where we are going into the last couple of weeks of the season.

“We are stretched, but I’m not making excuses.

“These things happen and might happen to one of the other teams over the next three or four days.

“You’ve just got to be mentally tough enough to deal with it.”

If Roofe is ruled out it could open the door for James Roberts to start his first United game in 15 months.

The teenager has endured a tough season, but lifted the side as a sub at the weekend.

He said: “You’ve only got to look at what happened on Saturday.

“Robbo came on the pitch and had two shots, one was blocked on the line, and the keeper made a great save and pushed it on to the post.

“The good thing from our point of view over the last couple of weeks is he’s started to look like himself.

“He’s been more aggressive, so it’s crunch time for some of these players now.”

Newport have no new injury concerns and could welcome back left back Scott Barrow after a hamstring strain.

Top scorer Scott Boden is likely to be recalled as they look to improve a record of just two goals scored in seven games.

Newport Co: from Day, Holmes, Jones, Hughes, Barrow, Rodman, O’Sullivan, Byrne, Elito, John-Lewis, Boden, Ayina, Morgan, Coulibaly, Klukowski, Partridge, Donacien, Davies, Green.

Oxford Utd: from Buchel, Kenny, Mullins, Dunkley, Evans, Hylton, Sercombe, Ruffels, Maguire, Roberts, Waring, Bowery, Roofe, Giles, Lundstram, Ashby, Wright, Slocombe.