KEMAR Roofe is in line for his first Oxford United start after head coach Michael Appleton hinted he was considering leaving top scorer Danny Hylton out for the trip to Bury.

The loanee from West Bromwich Albion came off the bench, replacing Hylton, on Tuesday night and was praised for giving the U’s a spark as they hit back late to draw 1-1 with Morecambe.

Roofe has been used as a substitute in all four games since arriving at the club and Appleton believes it would be hard to leave him out at Gigg Lane.

The U’s boss said: “In three of the four games he’s come on he’s made a real impact.

“I’m sure he will be knocking on my door to make sure he’s in the starting line-up.

“I think it would be very difficult to keep him out, if I’m being honest.”

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With 15 goals, Hylton has scored three times as many goals for United this season as anyone else in the existing squad.

But Appleton felt the 26-year-old, who has missed just one game this term, looked tired in midweek.

“Apart from the first couple of games he’s probably played every minute of every game,” he said.

“The fact there is a little bit more quality in my opinion now means if players aren’t producing then it might be someone else who has an opportunity to come in.

“That doesn’t mean they’re going to find themselves out of the team permanently, but it might be for a short period and all of a sudden they go again two or three games down the line.”

United picked up a few bumps in midweek, but nothing which will prevent Appleton selecting from a full-strength squad.

Bury, on a four-game winning streak, have almost a clean bill of health.

Striker Hallam Hope (hip) is the only player unavailable.

TODAY’S SQUADS

Bury: Pope, Riley, Cameron, El-Abd, Hussey, Etuhu, Adams, Tutte, Soares, Mayor, Nardiello, Lowe, Rose, Sedgwick, Jones, O’Brien, McNulty, Lainton.

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, MacDonald, Collins, Ruffels, O’Dowda, Hylton, Hoban, Roberts, Gnanduillet. Hoskins, Roofe, Rasulo, Ashby, Whing, Rose, Dunkley, Long, Ashdown.