MICHAEL Appleton is confident Kane Hemmings’s unlucky goalscoring record for Oxford United will turn.

The striker is the only player to score for the U’s away from the Kassam Stadium in Sky Bet League One this season.

They have all come in 2-1 defeats, but Appleton, who views the summer signing as the squad’s most natural finisher, believes the run will turn – hopefully at Bolton Wanderers this afternoon.

He said: “I did have a joke with him and say you might have to score two or three to get the result we want.

"If he gets a bit more game time, which will be down to him, I’m sure he’ll be in double figures before you know it.”

United are without Ryan Ledson (knee) and while Curtis Nelson is back in training, today’s game comes too soon for the centre back.

The hosts are likely to have Mark Beevers back at centre half after missing the midweek 1-0 defeat at Rochdale with a virus.

Striker Gary Madine could return to the squad after a month out with a groin problem, but Lewis Buxton (knee) and Darren Pratley (broken leg) are long-term absentees.

Bolton Wands: from Howard, Wilson, Weaver, Beevers, A Taylor, Henry, Spearing, Vela, C Taylor, Clough, Proctor, Anderson, Trotter, Thorpe, Madine, Ameobi, Perry, Moxey, Derik, Alnwick.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Edwards, Raglan, Dunkley, Skarz, Rothwell, Lundstram, Maguire, Sercombe, Johnson, Hemmings, Taylor, Thomas, Crowley, T Roberts, MacDonald, Ruffels, Martin, Long, Buchel.