CONGOLESE striker Vinny Mukendi is set to feature for the first time as unbeaten Oxford City travel to Havant & Waterlooville in Vanarama National League South tomorrow.

The former Macclesfield Town forward signed for the club following a successful trial during the summer, but has been unavailable for City’s four matches.

Assistant manager Danny Nicholls said: “He came in during pre-season and did really well.

“He’s tall and direct and I think he really gives us something different up front.”

Winger Omari Sterling-James, on loan from Cheltenham Town, is also set to return after recovering from an ankle injury, picked up in the opening game of the season at home to Chelmsford City.

City’s two victories from their opening four matches have both come on the road – at St Albans City and Maidstone United – and Nicholls has backed his charges to continue that form this weekend.

“We expect nothing less from them,” he said.

“The lads are buzzing at the moment, but our message to them is that we expect them to win games away from home.

“You have to be able to win your away games if you want to get promoted from this league.

“So yes, we’re very pleased with our form so far, but we expect it from them.”

And although many teams look to pick up points on the road playing defensive, counter-attacking football, Nicholls insisted City will stick to their expansive passing game on their travels.

“We’re very big on how we do things at Oxford City,” he said.

“We don’t just want to get the ball and launch it, we want fans to actually enjoy the game and see some good football.

“It is important to me what other people think about us, because we want to be a club who do things in a certain way.

“Yes, we want to get promoted, but we want to do so playing good football.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Havant & Waterlooville, away): from Walker, Coulson, Lapoujade, Del Alamo, Henderson, Santiago, Benjamin, Isaac, Pond, Bubb, Lafuente, Fleet, Pifarré, Lawrence, Sterling-James, Stonehouse, Arzamendi, Mukendi.