OXFORD United defenders Greg Leigh and Sam Long should both return from injury within a fortnight, head coach Des Buckingham has said.

Both players have been unavailable to Buckingham since he became boss on November 16.

Leigh has been nursing a calf injury picked up while on international duty with Jamaica towards the end of November, while Long suffered an ankle injury inside the opening few minutes of United’s 2-0 win at Lincoln City on October 31.

Oxford Mail: Greg Leigh on the ball for Oxford United earlier this seasonGreg Leigh on the ball for Oxford United earlier this season (Image: Mike Allen)

Oxford Mail: Sam Long ventures forward for Oxford United earlier this seasonSam Long ventures forward for Oxford United earlier this season (Image: Mike Allen)

Providing an update on the duo, Buckingham said: “Greg’s still on track and started back on the grass on Wednesday, and came out a little bit with the group on Thursday.

“He hasn’t touched a ball yet, but he’s on the field, and that’s a good start. Hopefully it’s another week, or two weeks tops, for Greg.

“Sam’s just making sure that ankle responds the way we want it to, without pushing him too quick.

“It’s still a little bit of a loose time frame with Sam. A week to two is what we’re being told, but it’s about how that reacts.”

Brentford loanee Fin Stevens has played at right back in Long’s absence, although midfielder Oisin Smyth did feature there for the EFL Trophy win at Forest Green Rovers, while the U’s added free agent Joe Bennett to their squad, to negate the loss of Leigh.