Matt Robinson is facing a desperate race against time to try to be involved in Oxford United's crucial end-of-season games.

The left back, who has probably been United's most consistent player this season, has missed the last four games with an Achilles injury.

And the 29-year-old defender admits he is not overly optimistic of being fit for this Saturday's final away game of the season at Macclesfield - a match United need to win to keep their season alive.

"It's not too good to be honest, but I'm just having to take it week by week," he said.

"It has settled down, but it's still really sore.

"The injury is with the Achilles tendon and maybe it was my own fault because I played against Mansfield and Northampton when it was really troubling me.

"I definitely was struggling in those games but thought I could maybe get through them and it would get better.

"I've only got myself to blame. I pushed myself to play too much when I shouldn't have done."

Although Danny Brown and Matt Bound have at times done well in Robbo's position, the side has not had the same attacking threat down the left since he was sidelined.

After being an ever-present for nearly 60 consecutive league games, the former Reading defender is desperate to get back into the team to help the push for a play-off place.

"I really hope it doesn't rule me out for the rest of the season. I'm working with physio Neil Sullivan and just hope it responds to treatment.

"I'd played every single league game before this and was hoping to play the whole season without injury.

"It's the worst possible time for me for something like this to happen because I'm after a new contract.

"There's a new manager here I'm trying to impress, and these games are not ones I want to miss.

"It was so frustrating watching the draw against Cambridge and being unable to do anything about it."

Brighter news for the U's, though, is that both Brown and Jon Ashton, who missed the Cambridge match through injury, should have recovered for the Macclesfield game, which United must win to keep their slim play-off hopes alive.