DES Buckingham has downplayed the training ground injury which forced Will Goodwin to miss out on Oxford United’s pre-season friendly with Palermo.

A picture of the 22-year-old striker wearing a protective boot at the John Radcliffe Hospital circulated online on Friday, with chatter spreading on how serious the problem was.

U’s head coach Buckingham explained that there has been no break or fracture to Goodwin’s ankle, and that the former Cheltenham Town player would go for a second scan, this time to determine any potential ligament injury.

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Buckingham joked: “I was asked if he was on life support at some point. I think he was snapped in the JR at the X-ray machine.

“As things do in Oxford, they quickly escalate to the worst-case scenario sometimes.

“In training, in a small-sided game, the ball hit his ankle at the same time as another player, so he’s hit his ankle slightly.

“It’s swollen up, so as we always do, it’s precautionary that they get put in a boot. Owen Dale’s was to keep the swelling down, just in case there is something.

“Will had the X-ray just to rule out any significant problems. The X-ray has come back, and there’s no break, no fracture, and the swelling has gone down because of the way it’s been managed.

“He will go for a scan to make sure there is no ligament damage.

“It’s part of football. We want players to compete and try to mirror the demands of the game.

“It’s important that players train at an intensity, and it’s not a muscular injury he’s done by overexerting himself, it’s a very unfortunate contact injury.

“Hopefully it’s not too bad, and I expect to see him back sooner rather than later.”