KARL Robinson says he has no regrets over handing deals to Sam Baldock and Alex Gorrin.

The duo had suffered serious injuries when given new contracts by Oxford United, and have been unable to make an impact on the club’s fortunes this season.

In May, Baldock signed a two-year contract with United, after his initial short-term deal with the club expired at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

The striker initially signed as a free agent in February, after leaving Derby County, and suffered a knee injury less than a month after his debut.

However, he made a big impression at the club, scoring four goals in seven games, and struck up a strong partnership with Matty Taylor in a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Baldock though has not played this season.

Gorrin meanwhile agreed a one-year deal in June.

The midfielder sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during an Emirates FA Cup draw with Bristol Rovers last November, and has struggled for a starting place this season.

United head coach Robinson was asked during BBC Radio Oxford’s Five Minute Fans Forum why the two players were given new deals.

He said: “Gorrin and Baldock were given new deals because we needed some sort of players in the building that knew what we were doing and had been part of that squad that had been successful with the points tally the year before.

“Sam’s contract is based on more performance and playing than anything other than that, so I don’t regret that.”

On summer recruits Josh Murphy and Yanic Wildschut, who have both spent significant time out this season, Robinson said: “Certainly the Josh Murphy one was completely left field, and the criticism for Yanic Wildschut is poor.

“If you look at his injury record, it’s been impeccable over the last 10 years.

“He’s had injuries obviously but the medicals we put these players through, they all passed them really well.

“We have to respect the players’ welfare, and I don’t regret that.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the game and I think when you make these decisions, you always know players are vulnerable to being injured – it’s a contact sport.”

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Robinson added that Murphy trained yesterday, and would do so today, prior to a decision being made on his availability for the visit of Exeter City in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup.

He said: “It’s about us making sure he stays fit for the rest of the season.

“Maybe we brought him back too soon at certain stages, my eagerness to put him back in with the amount of injuries that we’ve had.

“We’ve got one or two things wrong along the journey but we feel we have control of that now, and we’re getting closer and closer.”