KARL Robinson hinted at making a tactical change against Morecambe as he seeks to cope with a growing injury list.
Oxford United go into tomorrow’s Sky Bet League One clash (3pm) without wingers Marcus Browne, Josh Murphy and Yanic Wildschut and striker Sam Baldock.
It leaves United light in attack for a game that has increased in importance over the last week, following defeats to Bristol Rovers and Lincoln City.
The U’s have played a variation of 4-3-3 so far this season, but the early spate of injuries may force Robinson into a reshuffle when Morecambe come to the Kassam Stadium.
READ MORE: Oxford United winger has scan on knee injury
“We only have one or two wingers left in the building, so we’ve got to be creative,” the U’s head coach said.
“This week’s been really challenging, but exciting.
“It felt like on Tuesday night I had a jigsaw puzzle that I couldn’t finish because the pieces just aren’t there.
“We’ve changed the jigsaw and this one does have a full set of pieces. That’s probably the best way of putting it.
“After many hours of searching, hopefully we’ve picked the right picture.”
Pressed on what that might involve, Robinson added: “We’ve just got to make sure that we are ready to adapt.
“Sometimes when you’re in that muddiness, changing something gives a freshness to it and a belief.
“If you keep doing the same things with players that aren’t there it complicates things.
“This will lift the building and all of us and we’ll be excited about the challenge.”
Browne’s knee injury against Lincoln on Tuesday night was the latest setback in a difficult week for United.
They failed to create many chances in the 1-0 loss at Bristol Rovers last Saturday and were unable to convert their superiority into points in the 2-1 home defeat to the Imps.
READ MORE: Marcus McGuane confident Oxford United will click despite difficult week
Baldock, Browne, Murphy and Wildschut all arrived to great fanfare in the last seven months, but the U’s look set to be without all four until at least mid-September.
Robinson was nonetheless bullish about his side’s chances against a Morecambe side yet to register a win this season.
He said: “In years gone by I’d be in a really difficult place going into these games knowing we’ve lost these players.
“It’s a big disappointment to try to compete at the top of the league without them.
“But this team is still good enough to beat any team in the league on its day.
“They’ll be told that and they’ll have to believe in that.
“They’ll challenge themselves like they do day-in, day-out and I’ll back them.”
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