OXFORD United have the resources to cope while skipper Jake Wright recovers from a hamstring strain, according to head coach Michael Appleton.

The centre back is facing ten days on the sidelines after picking up the injury during Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Northampton Town.

United’s busy schedule means they will miss Wright for at least three games, starting with tomorrow’s crucial clash with promotion rivals Accrington Stanley at the Kassam Stadium.

Providing the time frame for recovery is accurate, U’s boss Appleton will partner Chey Dunkley with Johnny Mullins at centre half, instead of looking to the loan market.

He said: “Chey has done fantastically well when he’s come in, so I have no worries from that point of view.

“My concern would be if one of them picked up an injury and we had to play Sam Long or Skarzy (Joe Skarz) at centre half. It would leave us a bit light.”

Dunkley has started 15 games in all competitions this season, including a run in the team last autumn when Wright was ruled out for six weeks with a back problem.

While admitting it was a blow to lose his skipper, Appleton was quick to talk up the positives of having Dunkley in the side.

“Chey’s biggest strength is what he does in both boxes,” he said.

“He can be a colossus at times in our own and in the opposition box he gives us something a bit different.

“He is aggressive, I don’t want him to do anything different to what he’s done when he’s played for us previously.”

Wright has made 275 appearances for United since joining in January 2010.

The back problem earlier in the campaign was a recurrence of an old injury and may have been a contributory factor to the latest issue, although the cause is unclear.

Appleton said: “It could be one of four or five things.

“I’m just glad we nipped it in the bud and didn’t give it an opportunity to be worse than it is now.”