CAMERON Brannagan could make a surprise return against AFC Wimbledon.

The Oxford United midfielder has not featured since October after he was hospitalised with rare inflammation behind the eye.

But the 24-year-old’s recovery has progressed well and he played 20 minutes of an in-house training game last Friday.

Brannagan is still on a low dose of steroids to treat the issue, but boss Karl Robinson is hoping he will be fit enough to start the Papa John’s Trophy third round tie against Cambridge United on January 12.

It means United’s No 8 could feature off the bench before then, including against Wimbledon on Boxing Day.

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Robinson said: “It’s a very slow development in his sight, but there’s a development.

“He seems to be shaking off everything that we throw at him and he’s working extremely hard.

“It’s a shame with the amount of games we’ve got that we can’t give him 60 minutes in a behind closed doors game.

“We’ll probably look to start him against Cambridge, but I don’t see why he can’t play cameo roles and really make a claim for his position.”

John Mousinho is expected to be the only player not available for Saturday’s clash as United carefully manage his knee injury.

This would see Rob Atkinson regain his place at centre back after the 22-year-old recovered from the knock to his hip he sustained at Blackpool on December 12.

Sam Winnall is also set to return and Robinson revealed the striker had shown promising signs in training.

He said: “In the finishing exercises he’s looked very sharp.”