Karl Robinson reaction to Oxford United’s 3-1 win over Lincoln City

Before the game, Robinson said a deal was being finalised for a midfield player, and after watching James Henry net a hat-trick, the U’s head coach’s mood improved tenfold.

He said: “This is as happy as you get as a manager, playing at home, playing well, scoring three goals, getting deals done, turning deals down.

“The way we asked questions of the opposition was exceptional, everything we worked on was clear to see.

“I thought we were very good in a lot of aspects of our play.

“This was us, for 45 minutes, at our best.

“We’re only going to improve, but it’s a good place right now.

“I had a little bit of nerves for the last five minutes but I’m ecstatic for the players.”

Although he could not reveal the identity of the mystery midfielder, Robinson elaborated on how the deal came about.

“I made the phone call yesterday to the board and they said ‘do it’,” he said.

“I asked who needed to go out and they said nobody.”

Whoever the midfielder is, he will do well to edge out Henry, who was outstanding in the U’s midfield.

Robinson said of Henry: “He’s a master at annoying me but I like working with the likes of James, Sam Winnall and Matty Taylor – players that have been at high levels, there’s a different aura about them.

“He’s [Henry] an outstanding player at this level.”

Mark Sykes continued in a wide role on the right hand side, and Robinson said he prefers him there to in midfield.

“There’s a big argument for Sykesy higher up, he gives us so much more in the final third off the right,” Robinson said.

“I prefer him in there, sometimes his lackadaisical approach in the middle of the pitch gets him caught out but his talent comes to the forefront when he gets in them little areas on the right.

Jordan Thorniley was forced off with an injury just after the hour mark, with Robinson saying it was too soon to know the extent of the problem.

He said: “It’s the way he’s landed, hopefully he’ll be alright.”