ALEX Gorrin has delivered a boost to Oxford United after concerns over a hamstring injury were played down.

The midfielder was forced off late on in Tuesday’s 3-1 win against Rochdale, his 50th appearance for the club.

There were worries it could lead to another spell on the sidelines for Gorrin, who missed six weeks at the start of the campaign with an ankle problem.

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But head coach Karl Robinson was relieved to hear the issue was a minor one – although the 27-year-old will not play in the next two cup games as a precaution.

He said: “We think Alex’s is nothing really. He won’t be involved on Saturday.

“It’s a fatigue thing for him, having not played and then been in a massive amount of games in a short period.

“You do put him under extreme stress if you play him.

“We’ll pull him out of the whole game.”

James Henry (knee) and Sean Clare (hip) have been managing their fitness and were due to be rested even before their issues flared up against Dale.

They are unlikely to be involved against Peterborough United in the Emirates FA Cup, or the Papa John’s Trophy tie against Walsall next Tuesday.

Robinson said: “There’s a good ten days for some of these players to get that right, have some treatment and do some work in the gym.”