Oxford United should be able to welcome back Sam Winnall, Cameron Brannagan and Elliott Moore as they welcome Gillingham to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
All three have trained this week after injury and are in contention for a return to the side, with midfielder Marcus McGuane not too far behind.
“It will come too soon for Marcus and we won’t rush him back” Karl Robinson told iFollow today. “It has been good to have him back out there with the group and he will be back sooner rather than later.
“The other three have trained well, but so have the whole group really. I said after the defeat at Cheltenham that even though everyone has been playing well everyone’s shirt was up for grabs and we would look at how we trained this week before we chose the side to play Gillingham. So we will train again on Friday and then we will pick a team to win the game.
“Things clicked for a period of the game at Cheltenham but we lost our way a little. We knew it was going to be a difficult game: they beat Ipswich there and won at the Valley so they have had some good results. Statistically we did OK, particularly in the first half, but we know the fans want a win now on Saturday after that result. We all do.
“We are looking for rhythm and what suits certain players' game. It has been a really hard week but it has been really good.
“We know Saturday’s game will be difficult as well. Gillingham will work hard and make it difficult for us and be in our face: they always are. I remember last year in particular where they made it really hard for us in the second half. So we have to stand up to that and be at our best but it is a big seven days with two home games and hopefully we can get an important win and all three points on Saturday.”
See the full interview in iFollow including Karl’s thoughts on Matty Taylor, Gavin Whyte and the progress being made throughout the football club.