CAMERON Brannagan and Elliott Moore will be available for Oxford United’s crucial clash against Sunderland, says Karl Robinson.

The influential pair were late withdrawals from last Saturday’s trip to Plymouth Argyle due to concussion and illness respectively, which also forced them to miss Tuesday’s game at Morecambe.

Brannagan has been one of United’s key players this season, scoring 13 goals and racking up more minutes than anyone prior to his head injury.

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Meanwhile, captain Moore is in line for his first appearance since sustaining an ankle injury at Crewe Alexandra on February 22.

The U’s need a result against play-off rivals Sunderland on Saturday and Robinson knows the duo’s return is a massive boost.

“They’re massive players for us,” United’s head coach said.

“The seven-day concussion protocol with Cameron has been cleared today, so he’s back in training. Elliott Moore is back in training today.

“We’ll have two big players back for the game and it gives me an opportunity to pick a team that can cope with certain aspects of the opposition.

“The team that we’re playing have got some wonderful, gifted players and we’ll have to be at our best to get something out of the weekend.”

United fell from fifth to eighth in League One after losing at Plymouth and Morecambe, despite doing enough to take more from both games.

And Robinson revealed Brannagan was as frustrated as anyone as he watched from afar.

He said: “Cameron Brannagan’s turned down big moves to be here.

“He was the first person that texted me after the game, saying he’s fuming.

“In the last two games, I think he’s broken two TVs through frustration.”

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Two players slightly further away from a return are Sam Baldock and Marcus Browne, out with knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

Both recently went for follow-up scans and Robinson hopes they could be available for the trip to high-flying Rotherham United on April 23, the penultimate weekend of the season.

He said: “We’re looking at maybe Sam and Marcus to be back for the Rotherham game, maybe Browney more than Sam.

“We just hope that’s not too late.

“People forget how well we played away at Plymouth and Morecambe without Baldock, Browne, Brannagan and Moore.

“There’s not many teams who can cope with losing four of what you’d call starting ten outfield players.

“It’s been difficult, but that’s the season it’s been for us.

“I’ve very rarely picked the team on a Thursday that’s been the team on a Saturday.”