With Manager Karl Robinson missing after a positive PCR test Oxford United will once again be managed by Craig Short and John Mousinho when they travel to Burton Albion on Saturday.
As Mousinho explains, Karl will still be involved even if he is not physically at the Pirelli Stadium this weekend.
“There is a nice mixture of Karl being in touch all the time still but also giving Shorty free rein after what he sees in training” he said. “The Manager is still in charge and we have the technology to facilitate that but with Shorty in the dug out we know we are in very safe hands as well.
“The PCR test came back positive which we were all expecting anyway and we will just follow the guidelines like we have been doing all along. We are in touch with him all the time so it’s just another of those bumps in the road that we have had to deal with over the last 18 months. We have dealt with most things pretty well and we adjust quickly. You may think you have seen everything in football but you never have.
“The lads dealt with everything really well, the staff adjusted like we always do and thankfully we got a win on Tuesday night which we would like to build on now, especially after a great win at Sheffield Wednesday in our last away game.”
For ‘Mous’ it is a chance to revisit a club he helped reach the Championship and renew acquaintances with Brewers’ boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who has done an incredible job in turning the club around on his return to Burton.
“We went there in January 2021 and we beat them 5-1. Jimmy had taken charge the day before even though he didn’t take charge of the team that day. But on that day I would have said it looked too much of a task for anyone to keep them up because they were adrift at the bottom of the league and leaking goals. He has done a remarkable job in turning that around and they are one of the form teams of 2021.
“They have had a solid start, they are a point ahead of us and having played there already in the season we know we are in for a tough tough game.
“Ryan Williams just had a slight issue before the game on Tuesday so Luke McNally was actually on the bench in his place but we are hoping that Ryan is able to train today and with Joel Cooper fit again we should have a clean bill of health on the playing side at least.”
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