KARL Robinson called on Oxford United to recruit 'aggressively' as he revealed his number of January transfer window targets have halved from four to two.

The U's are one of only four Sky Bet League One clubs yet to make a signing this month, while Sean Clare and Joel Cooper have departed on loan.

Robinson previously said he wanted to recruit four players during the window, but United's ten-match unbeaten run has changed his thinking.

The head coach still wants centre back cover and a winger and feels the U's cannot rest on their laurels.

“That’s the message: put your foot down,” he said.

“It’s important that we build on this squad.

“The key message you get from better managers than me is when things are going well that’s the time when you improve.

“Those are things you learn over time, now’s the time to turn the screw and try to find players who can make us better.”

Robinson added: “When we weren’t winning games we thought a big overhaul to patch things up could be a little bit of a rocket.

“When I say being aggressive, I mean in the two that we bring in.

“We’ve gone from four to two, so let’s be aggressive in what we do with that.”

The exits of Clare and Cooper and John Mousinho's knee operation means the U's have 20 first-team players.

That includes Marcus McGuane, who was due to have a scan on his injured thigh at 3pm today, while Robinson said on Saturday he would like to loan out Derick Osei, with the striker not currently registered with United's league squad.

But the U's boss is not worried about being short of numbers.

He said: “Rob Hall didn’t take the pitch (against Bristol Rovers on Saturday), nor did Jamie Hanson, the most expensive player I’ve bought.

“Mark Sykes, who is training like an absolute demon at the moment, might get his chance now.

“We’ve still got an awful lot of players available, like Derick Osei who’s still in the building and we can put in the squad.

“For us to build on this team it’s important we bring in players who have a real impact on what we achieve on the pitch.

“That’s something we’ve got to find in the next few days.”