KARL Robinson will make a late call on his line-up for tonight’s EFL Trophy clash with Bristol Rovers.

Saturday’s postponed Sky Bet League One game against Crewe Alexandra means the U’s have not played since their 4-1 triumph over Accrington Stanley ten days ago.

A positive coronavirus test within the Crewe ranks meant United paid to have their squad swabbed yesterday and were hoping to get the results last night.

Robinson will wait until the tests have been returned before picking his XI for the Group L fixture, where a win would see the U’s reach round two with a game to spare.

Read also: Oxford United make changes to training routine after Crewe Alexandra postponement

While the head coach has previously made a raft of changes in the Trophy, he hinted that the unexpected Saturday without a match could see him name a stronger team tonight.

Robinson said: “If I was to pick the team and something goes wrong with the testing, all of a sudden I’m changing it once again.

“I’ll wait until the results are back and I’ll speak to the medical and sports science teams about who I am right to play.

“If some don’t play it’ll mean they’ll go 14 days without a competitive game.

“You need to be putting yourself in that match situation where contact is inevitable.

“It’s about what’s right for each individual and the football club.”

Karl Robinson: Oxford United are 'very strong' option for Marcus Browne

Only Sam Long, Liam Kelly and Mark Sykes started United’s first Group L game against Chelsea Under 21s last month and the Sky Bet League One opener at Lincoln City four days later.

Robinson will be particularly keen his players retain match sharpness due to the high volume of games ahead, with next Tuesday currently their only blank midweek until November 17.

Even that could be filled with the rearranged Crewe fixture and Robinson is keen to get it out of the way.

He said: “If they want us to play the game, we need to play it (next) Tuesday.

“Whether we or they have players that test positive, we’re going to go into a difficult winter and even more games will be cancelled in that period.”

The U’s boss hopes to have more players at his disposal for the remainder of a busy October, with Josh Ruffels, Alex Gorrin, Jamie Hanson and Sam Winnall all close to returning.

Victory tonight would enable Robinson to ring the changes in the final Group L game at Walsall on November 10, but he still feels it is a competition United could do without at this stage of a truncated season.

“I think we could have played this competition in pre-season,” he said.

“I don’t know why we couldn’t, but the decision’s made and we accept it.

“I don’t think anybody can criticise any team this year for making a lot of changes in this competition.

“It has to be left for us to make that ourselves and not to be guided by the competition regulations.

“It would be great if we win – then we’re automatically through and we could play our Under 23s against Walsall if we had to.

“I won’t make any apologies for that, I’d utilise that development process for those players.”