OXFORD United are without nine players for today’s trip to Shrewsbury Town.

The U’s make four changes from last Saturday’s win over Burton Albion, with Jack Stevens, Ciaron Brown and Sam Long out through illness following a chain of Covid cases at the club.

Sam Baldock was already a confirmed absentee with a knee injury.

UPDATES: Shrewsbury Town v Oxford United - live

It means John Mousinho makes his first Sky Bet League One start since December 2020, while Simon Eastwood returns in goal.

Steve Seddon begins on the left of a back three and Nathan Holland comes in for Baldock.

As well as the striker, United already had James Henry, Marcus Browne, Elliott Moore, Alex Gorrin and Jamie Hanson out injured.

“From the team we picked on Thursday morning, the team that’s playing today has changed dramatically,” head coach Karl Robinson said.

“It (Covid) has ripped through the football club over the last seven days or longer, Portsmouth was our first case.

“As we know, this new variant is very easily contractable so it was difficult to stop once it was in the building.

“Some players have fallen by the wayside and you’ve got the injuries that don’t help. You’re tied by what you can and can’t do."

Eastwood plays for the first time since January 15, having stepped in for three months when Stevens had glandular fever.

Robinson added: “Jack Stevens didn’t sleep at all last night, he was vomiting at 4am this morning.

“He has a high fever, he’s tested negative (for Covid) but we had to make a decision.

“Simon Eastwood has been training like an absolute machine. He’s been pushing Jack anyway.

“John Mousinho and Sedds on the centre and left of a three is a bit of a concern because Sedds has never played there and Mous hasn’t started a league game this year."

It is not the first time this season United have been forced to adapt to multiple absences and Robinson feels his players can cope.

“That’s the mentality that has brought us together, the fighting spirit of the people who wear the shirt stays consistent regardless of what’s in front of you," he said.

“We’ve been in some big games this year without an awful lot of big players.

"We’re not hiding the fact that this is a big loss, if you were Shrewsbury you’d see this as a right chance to get amongst Oxford United.

"We’ve got to make sure we stand up to that.”