CAMERON Brannagan could be back for Oxford United next month after receiving positive news from a scan on his knee injury.

The midfielder came off at half-time in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Rochdale and went for a scan yesterday.

Boss Karl Robinson admitted there were concerns, with Brannagan unable to put weight on his leg yesterday without severe pain.

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While the scan was not conclusive, it did confirm there was no serious ligament damage, which means he will be sidelined for weeks rather than months.

Robinson said: “We’re predicting he’ll be back for Ipswich (on November 16), which is great, but he played for 30 minutes on it so the swelling increased around the knee.

“So the clarity (on the scan) is not 100 per cent, but it’s not anything significant.

“You’re talking about anything from three to six weeks, but we think it will be the best case scenario."

While it rules him out of tonight’s Carabao Cup tie with Sunderland and Saturday’s visit to Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One, the next few weeks are relatively light.

United have games in the Emirates FA Cup and Leasing.com Trophy, which the 23-year-old may have sat out anyway.

The next league game after Portsmouth is Ipswich, but that fixture could be in doubt due to the Suffolk club’s high number of international call-ups.

Brannagan, who will have another scan next week, is one of five players to drop out of the line-up tonight.

Chris Cadden also came off injured on Saturday but is now fine, while John Mousinho, Mark Sykes and Jamie Mackie drop to the bench.

Sam Long and Elliott Moore come into the back four, while Baptiste replaces Brannagan in midfield as Rob Hall and Matty Taylor are back in the front three.

The game is sold out, which is a huge boost to Robinson.

He said: “It’s brilliant – and it’s sold out for a League One game, let’s be honest.

“I’m so proud of the players and the fans, they’ve really worked hard.

“Those in the ticket office have put a right shift in and people like OxVox and fans who have put videos together to really ignite something.”

Oxford Mail:

Subs: Stevens, Mousinho, Jones, Forde, Sykes, Agyei, Mackie.