CHRISTIAN Ribeiro has been lined up for a return to action when Oxford United play a friendly against Vancouver Whitecaps later this month.

The summer signing is still waiting to make his competitive debut, having broken an ankle in the final training session of pre-season in August.

A complex recovery is now coming to an end, with the right back returning to training this week.

He and Sam Long, out since November with a hamstring problem, are due to return against unusual opposition.

Whitecaps fly to Wales next week for a pre-season training camp, which will include several games.

United have been invited due to a connection between the Major League Soccer side’s manager Carl Robinson and Michael Appleton.

The U’s head coach is friends with Robinson’s brother, Lee, who was involved in making the arrangements for the tour.

Appleton said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for some of the players who haven’t had much game time to pit their wits against a decent MLS side.

“That’s a good opportunity and the standard will obviously be a lot better than we’ve been used to in certain development games.

“Christian was back this week for the first time and Longy trained all week.

“It will be nice to see them both back on the pitch.”

The fixture is due to be played on January 30, at Dragon Park in Newport, home to the Wales National Football Development Centre.