Stars are currently fifth in the English Ice Hockey South Division

Oxford City Stars manager Gary Dent says injuries are to blame for his side's poor run of form, which has seen them lose their last five league games.

The Stars are currently missing former Swindon Wildcats players Gareth Endicott and Wayne Fiddes plus defender Andrew Shurmer with long-term injuries.

"We started the season well but with players missing we've gone into a slow period," Dent told BBC Radio Oxford.

"We're hoping to have players back soon so we can push for the play-offs."

Endicott underwent a hernia operation last month but is expected to return for the Stars' fixture against Bracknell Hornets on Saturday.

Shurmer is ruled out with a knee injury and Fiddes is sidelined after injuring his ankle earlier this month.

The Stars' mounting injury crisis has seen them slip to fifth in the English National Ice Hockey League South Division, but despite his depleted squad, Dent remains confident they are capable of winning silverware this season.

"If we have everybody together we can win something this season. We beat the current league leaders Wightlink Raiders 4-2 earlier in the season and that shows we're capable of getting a result against anyone when we have a full squad," he said.

The play-offs are the big thing for us so we want to finish as high as we can. Oxford City Stars manager Gary Dent

The top eight in the Southern division will go through to the play-offs at the end of the season and Dent says this is the Stars' main objective.

"The play-offs are what everybody wants to win and we're in a reasonably comfortable position at the moment to qualify for that," he said.

"The play-offs are the big thing for us and your league position determines who we in that, so we want to finish as high as we can."

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