Danny Rose says the prospect of having Ryan Clarke and Andy Whing back in the frame for selection tomorrow will give Oxford United a big boost.

The pair have been cleared to feature against Newport County in Sky Bet League Two at the Kassam Stadium after operations in the summer saw them miss the first two months of the season.

U’s head coach Michael Appleton would not reveal his plans yesterday, but made it clear Clarke and Whing felt they were ready after coming through two development games un-scathed.

Rose believes the presence of two old heads in the changing room will be priceless as the side attempt to improve their record of one win in ten league games.

  • Latest Sport news

The midfielder said: “They’re top, experienced players at this level with hundreds of games between them.

“Just having them in training has been good in the last couple of weeks, but to see them putting on the shirt would be a really big boost for us. Their experience is invaluable to the squad.

“Perhaps we’ve maybe missed that, I’m not sure.

“It comes down to taking chances and keeping clean sheets, but having that nous and little bit of know-how possibly could make the difference.”

Clarke’s return means United have three fit goalkeepers in the senior squad.

It will prompt a move after the weekend which will involve either George Long or Max Crocombe.

The first option would see Long’s loan from Sheffield United, due to run until the end of December, ending early.

Alternatively, Crocombe, whose only game time this season came in the Capital One Cup, when Long was ineligible, given the chance to play regularly on loan elsewhere until the new year.

“We can do either of those things,” Appleton said.

“That’s a discussion we have had as the staff, and one of those things will happen next week.

“We need to get this game out of the way. I will decide who starts in goal on Saturday and I’m sure at some point next week one of the goalkeepers will have to give way to what’s the right thing to do.

“Sometimes you don’t particularly want to make these decisions, but they are the ones you have to make.”

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.