Marcus Browne in contention for Oxford

Posted Friday, January 10, 2020 by PA

Oxford boss Karl Robinson could hand a second debut to Marcus Browne against Rotherham after the Middlesbrough midfielder rejoined the club this week.

Browne spent last season on loan with the U’s and scored nine goals in 44 appearances – while at West Ham – before moving to Sky Bet Championship club Boro on a permanent basis in the summer.

But he has re-signed on a temporary switch until the end of the season and could be drafted straight into the starting line-up alongside fellow new recruits Rob Atkinson, Liam Kelly and Nathan Holland.

Wales international Ben Woodburn has also returned on loan from Liverpool but is sidelined with a foot injury, while goalkeeper Simon Eastwood is set to start for the first time in six weeks following a knee problem.

Injury-hit Rotherham may be forced to play Matt Crooks in defence as Paul Warne contends with a depleted backline for the trip to in-form Oxford.

Clark Robertson has had surgery on his groin injury and has been ruled out for five weeks, while full-back Billy Jones is still three weeks away with a hamstring problem.

Adam Thompson will begin a three-match suspension after a red card against Hull in the FA Cup third round, while left-back Joe Mattock serves the final game of his ban.

Loan signing Hakeeb Adelakun is set to feature and make his debut, while fellow midfielder Shaun MacDonald (virus) will return to full training next week.