ELLIOTT Moore is hoping his patience pays off when he steps into the Oxford United defence this afternoon.

The centre back is expected to replace the suspended Rob Dickie at Rotherham United, in what will be only his fourth start in Sky Bet League One this season.

United spent a fee to sign Moore from Leicester City in the summer, but he admits a defensive record which has seen them concede twice in six league games has made it difficult to push his claims for a starting role.

He said: “You can’t really say too much.

“The most important thing for me and anyone else who is not in the starting XI is you’ve just got to keep doing your bit in training, because your chance will come.

“There’s injuries, suspensions, anything can happen and it can change quickly, so you’ve got to be ready.

“It’s massive to keep motivated, because when your chance comes you have to take it, then you can go and knock on the manager’s door and say ‘I deserve a spot’.

“You all want to be playing, but the most important thing is when the team’s doing well you’re just happy to be in that group of lads.”

It is said the mood in the camp is often determined by the attitude of those on the fringes.

But on that count, Moore says there is nothing to worry about.

“I’ve been in dressing rooms where there’s a split between the people who are playing and the people who aren’t,” he said.

“Here we stick together and want everyone to do well.”

The clash at the New York Stadium is between two sides near the top of the form table.

United will make late assessments on Matty Taylor (virus) and Alex Gorrin (ankle), while Rotherham have few issues.

They could welcome back striker Freddie Ladapo on the bench after a hamstring strain, which would leave just Kyle Vassell and Adam Thompson in the treatment room.

Moore said: “They’re a strong side and we know that they do have some real physicality, especially up front.

“We know what they like to do and what they’re good at.

“We just need to stick to what we’re good at.”

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

Rotherham Utd: from Iversen, Wood, Robertson, Ihiekwe, Olosunde, Wiles, Barlaser, Lindsay, Crooks, Hastie, Smith, Ogbene, Ladapo, Morris, Lamy, Mattock, MacDonald, Clarke, Jones.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Cadden, Moore, Mousinho, Ruffels, Gorrin, Brannagan, Henry, Sykes, Taylor, Fosu, Mackie, Agyei, Hall, Baptiste, Long, Stevens.