TONY McMahon is expected to be sidelined until the festive period after cracking a rib last weekend.

The Oxford United full back sustained the injury 15 minutes from time in the Emirates FA Cup first round tie against Forest Green Rovers.

But with the game evenly-balanced and all three substitutions already made, McMahon opted to play on.

United held on to draw 0-0 and earn a replay next week, but the decision is thought to have aggravated the injury.

Boss Karl Robinson said: "We didn’t know until he was nearly crying after the game.

"He knew we had made our substitutions.

"The physio and the doctor said 'you can’t carry on with these things', but he said ‘I wasn’t coming off and leaving my teammates’.

"That’s what you’re after (in terms of attitude), but we think he’s going to be out for a good six or seven weeks."