Jonsson fit for match-winning mission with Fleetwood

The midfielder has started all three games, defying a painful foot injury to score against Scunthorpe on Saturday, and although Town are undefeated (except in a penalty shootout), they have not yet tasted victory either.

Jonsson is fit to face the U’s at Highbury tonight, when loan signings Chris Long and George Glendon could make their debuts.

Icelander Jonsson said: “We are disappointed not to have won on Saturday, after being in a good position at 2-0 up, so it’s good to have another game so quickly to try to put that right.

“When the games come around so fast it’s about doing everything right off the pitch to recover and prepare. If you do that, the game takes care of itself.

“It has been tough because we haven’t had a lot of time to work on the training ground with all the games.

“But we have done a lot of video analysis because the boss wants to get his ideas across and we are trying to improve. The more time we get the stronger we will be.

“You want to play every game but everyone has to be on their toes. The new manager has come in, so everyone has a point to prove. I’m happy to be in the side but I’ll be happier when we start to get results.”

Oxford are the second newly promoted side to face Town this season and Jonsson added: “Promoted teams are always full of confidence and start the season on a bit of a high.

“Oxford play differently to Northampton (Town’s opening opponents). They pass the ball about a bit more, but we have worked on things we think can hurt them and hopefully we’ll take those into the game.

“But you won’t win games if you keep letting in goals and we are disappointed with the ones we conceded at the weekend. If we can improve on that we’ll hopefully start to win games.”

Oxford have taken just one point from two League One games and head to Highbury on the back of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers.

Manager Michael Appleton’s main problem is at right-back. First-choice Christian Ribeiro is out with a fractured ankle and deputy Sam Long saw two yellow cards turn red last weekend. That means Appleton must gamble on teenager Miles Welch-Hayes or a non-specialist tonight.

Centre-half Chey Dunkley could return after injury as could former Blackpool frontman Wes Thomas.

Big-money summer signing Kane Hemmings from Dundee scored his first goal in Sunday’s defeat.