OXFORD United plan to seek specialist advice in a bid to help Anthony Forde recover from a nasty injury on Saturday.

The Oxford United winger is still in the John Radcliffe Hospital after breaking four ribs - of which two were broken in two places - and puncturing a lung in Saturday's goalless draw with Shrewsbury Town.

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Forde is expected to be discharged by the middle of the week, but is facing a lengthy lay-off.

U's boss Karl Robinson told the club's website: "Fordey was really struggling and that’s not nice for the other lads to see but we know he is in good hands and they will just keep an eye on him for a day or two before he goes home and starts his recovery.

“We wont set a time scale on that, it’s far too early for that, it’s just good news that everything has been diagnosed clearly and now we can seek specialist advice on how to help Fordy get back to full fitness.”

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Forde was grateful to the medical staff who have handled his treatment from the moment he went down.

He said: "I want to thank the pitchside medical team for their help and then everyone, from the ambulance team to the doctors and staff at the JR have been amazing.

"I’m not going to lie, it’s still very painful but we know what it is and we know there is no long term damage to my lung so hopefully it’s just a case of the ribs healing now.”