Oxford United will be without top scorer James Henry when the U’s welcome Newcastle United tomorrow night in their FA Cup fourth-round replay.
The midfielder, who returned against Blackpool on Saturday following a month out, had been sent for a precautionary scan this morning with the 30-year-old feeling discomfort in his other thigh.
Although it’s believed not to be serious, U’s boss Karl Robinson insists he won’t take a chance with some big games to come later this month.
He told the Oxford Mail: “James Henry is having another scan.
“It’s on his other thigh. We don’t know 100 per cent what that is – he said it felt stiff during the game.
“I won’t risk him tomorrow, James Henry is far too important to this football club for the league campaign.
“I’m not expecting it to be serious, I think because there has been an issue with his thigh it will be more of a case of proving to him it’s not as bad. We’ll see.”
But there is good news for the U’s boss after Anthony Forde returned to training this morning.
The winger, who suffered four broken ribs and a punctured lung as the U’s drew with Shrewsbury Town, has been out since the start of December, and he could return when Oxford travel to Peterborough this weekend.
Robinson said: “Fordey should be back in the squad for the weekend, we’re hoping. He trains today.
“He sleeps, he recovers, he does everything on the money. He’s top drawer at that.”
Losing Henry is a blow, but there should be more than enough class in the squad that can come in and replace the midfielder.
