SAM Long has no issue with being the senior figure in Oxford United’s ever-changing defence.

Karl Robinson has switched between a three and four-man back line in recent weeks due to various injuries, with Elliott Moore now out for the foreseeable future due to an ankle problem.

The captain’s absence makes Long’s experience even more important, the 27-year-old having reached 150 U’s appearances earlier this year.

The academy graduate has been at the club almost two decades and is happy to take the initiative.

He said: “I’ve probably been beyond my years even when I was younger.

“I enjoy the responsibility of being that leader and I enjoy being the one that people look to lead that unit.

“I was the captain of the Under 18s and I enjoyed doing that then. I think that’s just my personality.”

Read also: Karl Robinson gives injury update on Oxford United trio

Robinson reverted to a back three for the midweek defeat at Portsmouth, but whether he sticks with it for tomorrow’s visit of Burton Albion remains to be seen.

The chopping and changing has seen Long play in every position across the defence, which he has done with little fuss.

“Tuesday was the first time I started in the centre of the three so it’s new for me, but I’d like to think I can adapt quite quickly and I’m ready to do whatever I need to do to help the team,” he said.

“All the time I’ve been here I’ve always been able to fill in and change positions.

“It’s something I enjoy about my game.

“There are jobs to be done and roles to be filled.

“I can fit that bill and I’m more than happy to do that.”

A familiar problem came back to haunt United at Portsmouth, as they conceded two goals or more for the ninth time in 12 matches.

The U’s outscored the opposition on four occasions during that run, although they also fell to five defeats.

OPINION: Oxford United must give themselves breathing space ahead of difficult April

They claimed successive clean sheets against Charlton Athletic and Crewe Alexandra last month, but the previous shutout before those came in the win over AFC Wimbledon on December 29.

Long said: “We try to pride ourselves on clean sheets and lower xG (expected goals).

“But the way we play we leave ourselves susceptible to opportunities and with the amount of different players in different positions it’s very difficult to keep that fluidity in the back four or five.

“We’re working hard to do that, you score as a team and you concede as a team, but as defenders we pride ourselves on shutting out the opposition.

“We can’t expect to score three or four goals to win a game every week.

“Look at Crewe, we got a result there (a 1-0 win) because we kept a clean sheet.

“It’s easier said than done and we know there are areas we need to improve.

“But as long as we get the main statistic on a Saturday, which is the three points, that’s all that matters.”