MARCUS Browne was withdrawn as a precaution after feeling ‘a little bit tight’ during Oxford United’s 2-0 win against Grimsby Town in the Emirates FA Cup.

The winger had been out since picking up a hamstring injury during the 3-1 win at Barnsley back in August.

He replaced Josh Murphy after 68 minutes against the Mariners, but his return lasted just 12 minutes, before he was substituted.

The former West Ham United and Middlesbrough man was involved in United’s second goal though, laying the ball to Cameron Brannagan, who crossed for Billy Bodin to head home.

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U’s head coach Des Buckingham said: “Marcus has been out for 14 weeks and worked extremely hard with his rehabilitation on that hamstring.

“He went on and was cleared to play, so we put him on and he contributed extremely well to the second goal.

“He said he felt a little bit tight, so rather than risk anything further, we just precautionarily got him off.

“We’ll assess him, and hopefully it’s nothing too bad.

“Everyone’s seen a Marcus Browne in full flow, and how exciting he can be, and how important he is to us as a team if we do what we want to do this season.

“Hopefully he’s okay, but we’ll know a little bit more in a couple of days’ time.”

On Kyle Edwards, who recently made his own return from a hamstring injury, but was left out of the matchday squad against Grimsby, Buckingham said: “With his hamstring, and how long he’s been out for, we’re just looking after him a little bit.”