It was a busy week for Oxford United. There was good news as Karl Robinson welcome back four players to training while the U’s boss also provided a takeover update before his sides 1-1 draw against Gillingham.
Oxford United Weekly Round-Up: Injury Update, Takeover New and Draw Against the Gills
Four First Team Players Return to Training
On Tuesday, Karl Robinson welcomed four first-team players back as midfielders Cameron Brannagan and Marcus McGuane, defender Elliott Moore and striker Sam Winnall all returned to training.
Brannagan missed Saturday’s defeat at Cheltenham Town with a shoulder injury while Moore and Winnall have missed the previous two fixtures.
McGuane was one of two long-term absentees with a thigh strain, but he is closing in on a return to action for the U’s.
Rob Hall Joins Barnet
Later that day, National League side Barnet announced the signing of former U’s forward, Rob Hall.
The 27-year-old, who scored 25 goals from 111 appearances for the club over three separate spells, was released at the end of the season.
Oxford United Takeover Update
Before the U’s took to the field to take on Gillingham, manager Karl Robinson gave an update on the current goings-on in the boardroom, describing the changes as ‘exciting times.’
Indonesian investors, who have previous connections with the club, submitted an offer to buy the majority stake back in March with the deal subject to approval by the EFL.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Robinson said: “I believe it’s subject to EFL approval, that’s what I’ve been told.
“I speak to them (the board) every week, we have a great relationship.
“They share our ambition. They’ve been here for three years, as long as me.
“It’s really exciting. We have five years to be where we want to be, we know where that is.
“But their plans are not just on the green stuff – that’s the be-all and end-all of what we want to achieve, of course.
“There have been so many other things pushed under the carpet for this football club to succeed for too long.
“We had a conversation over dinner last night and we were talking about the development of the training ground and a disability team, women’s team, men’s team, the academy.
“It was like ‘wow – this is a football club’.
“We speak about being ready, once that’s ready it will slowly start filtering onto the football pitch.
“On the football pitch, they’re very ambitious as well.”
Draw Against Gillingham
Later that day, Oxford kept their unbeaten home run intact but will be disappointed not to have taken all three points against Gillingham.
The U’s ended the match with over 70 per cent possession and had seven shots in target from 25 attempts but only found the net once through Matty Taylor on five minutes.
Former Oxford midfielder Alex MacDonald struck before the break to level for the visitors who remain with just one win from nine league games.
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