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U’s Boss Not Looking to Bring in Defensive Reinforcements

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Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has insisted that the club won’t be bringing in a new centre back during this summer transfer window.

The U’s have shipped eight goals from four league games this season, but the U’s boss affirms he wants to keep with a back four that he already has in place.

Following the sale of Rob Dickie to QPR, Rob Atkinson and Elliott Moore have been the central partnership, with John Mousinho and Sam Long as the other alternatives.

Although Atkinson and Mousinho have both picked up knocks already this season, Robinson is sticking with his pairing and feels her has adequate cover.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Robinson said: “It’s weird though, people talk about defensive cover but we fundamentally only had last year Rob Dickie, Elliott Moore and John Mousinho, with Longy (Sam Long) as our fourth choice.

“It’s just as we sit now two of our centre backs are out injured.

“Longy’s gone in and done a good job, so it proves we have four people who can play in that position.

“If you were asking me, I’d like another one we could bring in under the age cap (21) and maybe work with them for maybe when Elliott or Rob move on.

“They are the things we’re looking at and they’re the things we’ve got to get right this week.”

Robinson has hinted at a possible loan move away for Nico Jones. The 18-year-old featured during the EFL Trophy match against Bristol Rovers last week but the U’s boss doesn’t feel he is ready for first team football.

He added: “Ruffs (Josh Ruffels) would have gone in there (at Gillingham) and Fordey (Anthony Forde) would have gone to left-back.

“We had Jamie Hanson as well, he was our cover.

“He’s played all the way across the back four in the Championship, so he’s done a lot more than him (Jones).

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