Oxford United team news boost ahead of Portsmouth clash

Oxford United are well in with a chance of securing a play-off spot this season but they will need their best players available to them on a regular basis in order to ensure they secure their place in the top six.

It was bad news for fans then to hear that both Matty Taylor and Mark Sykes were not feeling great for the League One outfit after their game in midweek against Wigan.

There could have been some fears as to both of them missing at least their next fixture against Portsmouth.

That would have been a blow, with Pompey another side that are hoping to kick on and potentially take a play-off spot off the U’s in the second half of the campaign.

However, the good news is that Karl Robinson has revealed to the Witney Gazette that he feels both players should feature at the weekend – meaning they will have two of their best players available and should be fairly strong in their starting eleven selection again.

Taylor has been in fine form for Oxford this year, managing 14 goals in just 27 league outings so far this season. In fact, that haul puts him as easily their biggest contributor in terms of goals bagged for the club so far this campaign.

It would be a huge blow then to lose him for a while and to hear he was suffering with sickness on the day of the Wigan game would not have filled any U’s fan with joy.

However, boss Karl Robinson has revealed to the Witney Gazette that both Taylor and Mark Sykes – who was suffering with a dental issue – are likely to both be in contention for the game again this weekend.

He said: “Sykesy [Mark Sykes] had root canal treatment at 8am on Wednesday, he had to go to an emergency dentist. Matty was still struggling on Wednesday with an illness.

“He was in a bad way on Tuesday and