KARL Robinson will delay picking his Oxford United team to face Gillingham until the last minute tomorrow.

The U’s have up to ten players unavailable for the Sky Bet League One game at the Kassam Stadium through injury, suspension or international duty.

Ricky Holmes (back) and Luke Garbutt (hamstring) are the only ones in the group who could feature, while Tony McMahon begins a six-week recovery from a cracked rib.

Robinson plans to turn to the youth team to fill his bench, but still thinks United’s side will be strong enough to win the game.

He said: “I hope Gillingham don’t think we’re trying to do be clever here, because this is certainly not a joke.

“This isn’t mind games in any way, this is the reality of where we are.

“We’re back to where we were six weeks ago with all these players out injured – it’s no coincidence our form got better with all the players we had fit.

“We still believe the team we’re going to put out is a very good League One team, we just might not have the players on the bench to change it in the way we want.”

“We still believe we can win. Don’t feel sorry for us, we’re preparing to win.”

INJURED

Rob Hall (knee), Jon Obika (knee), Samir Carruthers (knee), Shandon Baptiste (shoulder), Tony McMahon (rib).

DOUBTS

Luke Garbutt (hamstring), Ricky Holmes (back).

SUSPENDED

Jamie Mackie.

INTERNATIONAL DUTY

Gavin Whyte, Aaron Heap.