A KEY Oxford United trio instrumental to the club’s promotion pushes in recent years were all missing for a league game for the first time in more than three years.

Cameron Brannagan, James Henry and Matty Taylor were unavailable for United’s defeat at home to Shrewsbury Town at the weekend.

The former two missed out due to injury, while Taylor sealed a deadline day loan move to Sky Bet League One rivals Port Vale.

It marked the first time since the 1-1 draw at Gillingham on January 18, 2020, that all three players missed a league match for United.

Brannagan and Taylor were ruled out that game with knee injuries, while Henry was absent with a thigh problem.

The trio all missed the 0-0 draw at Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup, the following weekend.

While the three players have been with the U’s, only a further six games have seen all of them miss out from the squad completely, five of which though were Football League Trophy ties.

They include games at Crawley Town and Exeter City during the 2019/20 season, and the penalty shoot-out victory at home to Forest Green Rovers in December 2020.

Last season, the trio missed out on the penalty shoot-out win at Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup, plus Papa John’s Trophy clashes away to Cambridge United and at home against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s.