Oxford quartet set to return at Charlton Athletic – a welcome boost for former Addicks boss Robinson

Oxford United manager Karl Robinson is expecting four of his key players to be back for tomorrow’s match at The Valley.

The Scouser, 42, has been in charge of the U’s for more than four years – taking charge after leaving the Addicks in March 2018. He is the seventh longest-serving boss in England’s top four divisions.

But Robinson is under pressure  with Oxford 19th in League One and under new ownership, Anindya Bakrie and Erick Thohir taking a controlling 51 per cent stake earlier this week.

Matt Taylor, Sam Baldock, Josh Taylor and Elliott Moore are set to boost Robinson’s options.

He said: “People can say: ‘You’re lacking this and that’ – we’re lacking players, who aren’t available. By the next time that we play, four of them should be back.

“Elliott Moore brings a completely different way of playing for us.

“We’re in a difficult moment. My players are hurting and I’m hurting as well. I’ve taken criticism before and I’ll take criticism again. I want to back the players. I have no arguments with what they are giving me.

“I respect peoples’ opinions about me and the team – everything else that goes with it. Everyone inside the building knows that there is not that much wrong.

“It’s a reset. We have to accept the consequences of our results. I’ll stand at the front of the queue. I’ll be the shield they maybe need at times.”

Taylor scored twice in Oxford’s last fixture at Charlton – as well as getting in a tangle with Sean Clare that saw the defender shown a straight red card after 62 minutes.

Baldock also netted as the visitors won 4-0 in February.