MACC Town caretaker boss John Askey faces a giant headache ahead of Saturday's clash with Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.

With the Os set to recall burly 6'4 centre forward Julian Alsop - so often the scourge of the Silkmen - Askey finds himself without regular centre half Karl Munroe (suspended), full-back George Abbey (back) and on loan defender Rob Jones (knee trouble).

Jones, himself 6'7, would be the perfect weapon to combat Alsop's aerial threat, but the Stockport County defender is only rated at 50/50 after aggravating a knee injury this week.

Striker Martin Carruthers is also struggling with a hamstring injury picked up during training this week, which makes Macc Town's task even more difficult, admitted Askey.

He told us: "It's going to be very difficult, but that is why we have a squad. When you play Oxford you know there are going to be a lot of long balls into the box. Julian Alsop is a handful, he puts himself about a lot as we have found out to our cost in the past.

"I don't think we have ever been involved in a game where Julian has been playing that he hasn't managed to injure someone.

"One year at Swansea he managed to cut our entire back four and last year at Cheltenham he caused Darren Tinson to go off with a head injury."

Macclesfield also heard this week that young goalkeeper Boaz Myhill will sign for Stockport County on a one-month loan.

Silkmen boss John Askey said the club had looked into extending the Aston Villa stoppers' at Moss Rose.

He told us: "Boaz has been injured for the last few weeks and we have had to make other plans.

"He is a very good keeper, probably one of the best outside the Premier League, and we would have been interested in keeping him unfortunately but we could not afford to."

Askey has called on his remaining troops to show the same battling qualities exhibited in Macc's last game on their travels against Hull City and last week at home to Scunthorpe.

"We put in a battling performance against a strong side in Scunthorpe on Saturday and that is something that we have to show if we want to be winners.

"Every time we go out there we have to show that spirit. It is the only way we are going to win football games.

"The teams in this division are very evenly matched and if the players go out there and give all they have got then I can't ask any more."

One man who rarely gives less than 100 per cent is young midfield prodigy Danny Whittaker, but Askey said he will continue to resist calls to play him in the centre of midfield.

He said: "We have got to get the balance right and that can only be achieved by playing Danny out on the right. That will continue unless anything changes or anyone gets injured.

John Miles is expected to keep his place for the trip to Oxford, but may be switched up front with David Flitcroft moving into the left midfield slot.

The youngster impressed on Saturday against Scunthorpe United, creating the equalising goal for Matt Tipton.

Defenders Steve Macauley and Steve Hitchen are also on standby.

  • Although the Macc Town's FA Cup second round tie with Cambridge United at the Moss Rose is not an all ticket game, the Silkmen are offering their season ticket holders a week in which to purchase their seats should they wish to reserve them for this game.

Season Ticket holders have from 9.30am today (Wednesday) until 5pm on Tuesday November 26 to purchase their tickets before they go on open sale.