Oxford United have been dealt a major blow after captain Jake Wright was ruled out for up to four weeks with a hamstring problem. The Us are likely to be without the inspirational centre-back for the next month after limping off during the first-half of United’s FA Cup first-round draw at home to Gateshead on Saturday.
Furthermore, the club discovered Alfie Potter requires an operation on his ankle ligament damage, meaning the forward could be out for up to three months rather than the initial eight weeks forecast.
Wright, 27, is expected to miss the Yellows next six or seven matches, starting with Oxford’s trip to Mansfield Town on Saturday. However, manager Chris Wilder is hopeful fellow defender Tom Newey will recover by the weekend after sustaining concussion during the domestic cup tie at the Kassam Stadium.
Wilder said: “We were hoping, as Jake came off straight away, he might only be out for two weeks, but it will be four.
“Alfie goes in for an operation tomorrow to strengthen the ligaments in his ankle and will now be out for 12 weeks rather than the eight which was first diagnosed. They are obviously both big blows for us.”
Meanwhile in other news, United striker Dave Kitson has pleaded guilty to one of the charges against him and has requested a personal hearing. The 33-year-old forward was punished for post-match comments regarding the performance of referee Mark Brown during Oxford’s 1-0 loss at home to Bristol Rovers on 2 November.
Kitson branded Brown’s display as “horrific” and “horrendous”, whilst also accusing the official of swearing whilst Potter went to ground after sustaining his serious injury. The former Reading striker also labelled Brown as “possibly the worst referee” he had come across during his 13-year career in football.
The Us forward was specifically charged for his comments last week, with the FA reasoning Kitson’s post-match remarks constitute improper conduct that call into question the integrity of a match official and/or implied the match referee was motivated by bias and/or were personal in nature and brought the game into disrepute.
Lastly, advanced tickets to Oxford United’s FA Cup first-round replay away to Gateshead have been slashed down to just £5. Adults, concessions and students can all take advantage of the great offer after it was announced yesterday that BT Sport was to broadcast the tie at the Gateshead International Stadium live on television.
The Us FA Cup replay will also be shown on TV at the Kassam Stadium, with supporters being able to watch next Wednesdays big game in the stadiums bar for just a small admission fee of £2 which is donated towards the 12th Man Fund.
Plus, the victors of next week’s return leg will once again be shown live on television during the second-round of the FA Cup after BT Sport announced their next list of live fixtures. Should United defeat Gary Mills’ side at the second time of asking, then the Yellows’ clash away to Wrexham on Monday 9 December will also be shown live on BT Sport.
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