OXFORD United’s players should treat Saturday’s coronavirus near-miss as a reminder they have to tread carefully, says John Mousinho.

The squad will be tested today as a precaution after their clash with Crewe Alexandra was called off following a positive test result in the visitors’ squad during the morning.

United were unhappy they were not informed until after the Railwaymen had arrived at the Kassam Stadium.

It is understood the player who tested positive did not travel to the ground, but they had been on the team bus which came south on Friday and stayed overnight in the hotel.

Also read: EFL will look into Crewe Alexandra postponement at Oxford United

United’s players had limited contact with their Crewe counterparts, but Mousinho felt Karl Robinson’s men had to use it as a cautionary tale.

He said: “I’m not concerned at all that we would have contracted the virus from their squad, but it’s probably a warning sign for everyone that their player was completely asymptomatic.

“We’ve known that for a long time, so it’s another warning shot to the players that you just never know.”

The club captain was due to be on the touchline as one of United’s coaching staff while he recovers from a knee injury.

Several of those due to play were uncomfortable about playing once it became clear rumours about a positive test were true.

And Mousinho admitted the hosts’ big issue was why the U’s had not been notified hours earlier.

He said: “I don’t think the player got a positive result returned at 2pm, when we were told.

“I think it was before that and we’re not particularly happy with that.

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“We’re glad it did come to light, but I don’t think it’s particularly good news.”

He added: “Everything is so unknown at the moment.

“There’s talk of the virus not being particularly dangerous for young people, but then you hear horror stories about young people being admitted to hospital.

“It doesn’t matter, because plenty of the lads have older parents or they’re living with people who have certain conditions.

“Five or six have pregnant wives or young children.”

The postponement adds to an already packed fixture list, in a season which started a month late due to the impact of the pandemic on last term.

But Mousinho was in no doubt the right call had eventually been made.

He said: “We have a lot of

Saturday-Tuesdays coming up.

“We have to deal with these things, it’s a strange season and already one where we’re going to have to deal with lots of ups and downs.

“The fixture list is already very congested, so we didn’t necessarily need it.

“But the minute we start thinking we might be compromised or it’s going to work against us, then we’re in a bad place.”