KARL Robinson probably did not expect Oxford United’s strength in depth to be tested this much two weeks into the season.

Three players have filled in for Sam Long at right back in the first three Sky Bet League One games, while several key men will not travel to Bolton Wanderers tomorrow.

It is easy to forget the English Football League planned to introduce 20-man squad caps for Leagues One and Two this season, which seems as reckless now as when it was brought in last August.

Elliott Moore: This is the strongest Oxford United squad I've been involved in

Of United’s squad, only Luke McNally would not count towards the cap as it excludes players aged 21 or under.

Under those rules, the U’s would have been dipping into their youth sides to fill the bench at Bolton.

Even now it is back to its normal schedule, a 46-game season is a brutal measure of a squad.

Every player will be called upon at some point, so those who have had few minutes so far will get their chance soon enough.

The rules have been altered to allow 22 players, excluding goalkeepers and Under 21s, but you wonder how many clubs would be struggling already if the 20-man squads had stayed.