KARL Robinson suggests Oxford United may look to sign a centre back who they can immediately loan out again.

The U’s head coach has earmarked cover for Elliott Moore and Rob Atkinson as a priority during the January transfer window.

The latter was loaned back to Eastleigh after joining United 12 months ago, but was recalled in February due to a shortage of defensive options.

Karl Robinson: Oxford United's squad depth better than last season

Robinson revealed to BBC Oxford’s Five Minute Fans Forum he may use a similar tactic this time around.

He said: “We know we have initial cover, so you might want to bring in someone you can put out on loan in the National League with a 24-hour recall.

“At least that person’s playing and they’re in a bit of a rhythm.

“There are one or two bits of business we also want to get done in this window if we can, but those are things that we’ll keep internal.”

Robinson also wants a quick winger and confirmed he had been chasing ex-United man Gavin Whyte, before the Northern Ireland international’s loan move from Cardiff City to Hull City.

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He said: “We know one of our biggest attributes is how high we press teams.

“The freshness we can keep in that area of the pitch will be really key towards the end of the season.

“It’s been a fundamental factor here for the last few years.”

United are still chasing their first signing of the window, despite Robinson saying he wanted to bring in two players before the trip to Burton Albion on January 2.

And the U’s boss had no regrets about publicly revealing his transfer plans.

He said: “Every manager up and down the country will openly tell you they want to do their business early.

“They want to do it at the beginning of the window and they end up doing it at the end, because players become a little bit cheaper and you become more desperate.”