NICK Jordan will tonight make his first appearance since returning from a controversial loan spell at rivals Dorchester Town.

The Weymouth keeper, keen to play at the highest level, made the move last month but returned to the Bob Lucas Stadium last week after the Magpies decided against extending his stay.

Tom Manley retained the number one jersey for Saturday’s FA Trophy triumph over AFC Totton, but the Bournemouth-based PE teacher will miss this evening’s home encounter with Oxford City (7.45pm) through work commitments, resulting in a recall for fellow gloveman Jordan.

Boss Brendon King said: “Tom’s not available as he’s had to go away on a school trip as one of their qualified first-aiders. We didn’t have a game when he agreed to it and even though he tried to get someone to fill in for him when this match was rearranged, there wasn’t anyone available.

“It’s unfortunate but it gives Nick a chance to stake a claim. These things can happen in part-time football and people’s livelihoods have to come first.”

City visit the south coast second in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division table, but still hurting from an FA Trophy upset at the hands of lower-league Mangotsfield.

And after seeing his Terras dispose of table-topping Totton, King is quietly confident of gaining another impressive scalp this evening.

He added: “Oxford are flying at the moment. We’ve had a report on them so we know enough about them.

“They are playing in the FA Cup on Saturday so hopefully they will have one eye on that.

“They are experienced and well organised though, so we know it’s going to be tough, but the boys are buzzing and they can’t wait for the next game. It’s about how we apply ourselves, and if we do there’s no reason why we can’t get a result.

“The players deserve a pat on the back for Saturday but I would have preferred it to have been a league match and got three points. This is our bread and butter and what we train for week in, week out.

“We are playing second in the table and it’s another yard stick as to how far we have come over the last few weeks.

“We are a work in progress though and there is a massive way to go yet. We have shown signs of improvement but we are not yet the finished article.”

Weymouth’s reward for disposing of the Stags is a second qualifying round trip to Evo-Stik Division One South & West high-fliers Thatcham Town on November 5.

King, who also revealed that Sam Poole has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal, said: “It’s a tough draw with it being away from home and Thatcham going well in their league. However, we have got two important league games to worry about first.”

Terras (from): Jordan, Povall, Tribe, Dixon, Gerring, Poole, Frampton, Napper, Reed, Malsom, Duff, McKech-nie, Marshallsay, Beasley, Conning, Groves, Byerley.

* Admission for tonight’s game is free for all Budmouth College students and their parents.

To reserve tickets, contact 07824663649 or email james7wfc@live.co.uk