MARCUS Browne is expected to make his comeback from injury in a behind closed doors friendly this afternoon.

Browne is set to play 45 minutes as he steps up his recovery from injury.

The forward, who rejoined Oxford United on a permanent deal on deadline day last month, has not played since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while at former club Middlesbrough in January 2021.

United knew the 24-year-old would not be available for a few weeks when he arrived from the Riverside.

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The two-time loanee signed a two and a half year contract, with the option of an extra 12 months, after joining from Chris Wilder’s Boro.

The Oxford Mail understands the likes of John Mousinho and fellow new recruit Sam Baldock are also set to be involved in the behind closed doors friendly.

United head coach Karl Robinson realises the importance of getting someone with Browne’s ability into the first team picture.

He said: “It’s big for us. He’s now had two weeks of training, he looks really well.

“When he first came in, he was really tentative in possession and not getting involved in the tackles.

“But he’s been into one or two little tackles and there was no grimacing, it looks like he’s starting to build confidence in his own body.

“We knew he wasn’t for these seven or eight games, but it won’t be long before he’s back on the pitch.”

Browne scored 14 goals in 60 games across two loan spells in 2018/19 and 2019/20.

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United’s academy will also be in action today, as they welcome Garuda Select to the Kassam Stadium.

While the fixture is also being played behind closed doors, it will however be streamed for free to an international audience, via the online service Mola.

It is expected more than half a million viewers will tune in from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as the UK and Italy.

Garuda Select is led by Chelsea legend Dennis Wise and former Nottingham Forest hero Des Walker.

The team features young players from Indonesia, and more recently, African and Italian players aiming to secure a move to one of Europe’s top clubs.

United academy manager Dan Harris said: “I’d like to thank our board, the first team manager, the club’s ground staff and commercial team, Mola and the Kassam Stadium company for their help facilitating this game.

“This unique opportunity will hopefully give fans across Indonesia and here in the UK the chance to see an Oxford United academy side taking on a team that will include a number of high profile Indonesian, Italian and Senegalese young players.

“With the multinational makeup of our board and the ever-increasing profile of the club as a whole, the game is another opportunity to showcase all the exciting work being done across multiple departments here at Oxford United to a global audience.

“Our youngsters are really looking forward to what will be a really challenging and competitive fixture against a strong Garuda squad.”

Established in 2019, Garuda Select regularly compete against academy sides.