SAMIR Carruthers is handed a start among Oxford United’s five changes to their starting line-up at Shrewsbury Town.

It is only the Sheffield United loanee’s third Sky Bet League One start of the season – and his first competitive football of any sort since the 4-2 defeat at Accrington Stanley two months ago.

Jack Stevens makes his first start, replacing the suspended Simon Eastwood, but the other youngsters in the squad – Nico Jones, Fabio Lopes and goalkeeper Max Harris – are on the bench.

The other changes all come in the front three, with Gavin Whyte, Jamie Mackie and Jordan Graham coming into the side.

Josh Ruffels, James Henry and John Mousinho have all been left at home.

Also read: Shrewsbury Tn v Oxford Utd

Luke Garbutt, scorer of the winning goal against Charlton Athletic on Good Friday, switches to left back after United saw an opportunity in the way Shrewsbury set up.

Boss Karl Robinson said: “They play a three at the back and a strange system in the middle where they rotate.

“There’s so much space in the wide areas for full backs, so we’re almost playing a winger at full back to give us an impetus.

“Ruffs has been fantastic, so we’ve given him, Jamo and Mous the weekend off.

“It gives us an opportunity to get some of the younger players involved.

“But we’ve picked a very strong team, we’re here to try and win.”

Oxford Mail:

Unused subs: Harris, Hanson, Brannagan, Jones, Lopes, Napa, Sinclair.