JOEL Cooper will be among several senior players to feature for Oxford United's under 21 side tomorrow rather than face Milton Keynes Dons.
The winger was granted extra time to see family over the weekend after going away with Northern Ireland.
EFL rules require anyone who has been on international duty to have a coronavirus test.
That took place this morning, which meant he could not train with the squad as they worked on their tactics to face MK Dons until the result came back.
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Instead, United will use Cooper, named Danske Bank Player of the Year at the Northern Ireland Football Awards, in their first Central Cup game of the season, against Southend United at the training ground.
U's boss Karl Robinson said: "Joel won't be in the squad tomorrow.
"We have a game behind closed doors that he needs to play some minutes in.
"There will be three or four of our (first-team) players who will be in that and we're looking forward to seeing how they do.
"Then hopefully we can get a half-decent performance out of them and see if they can get close to the team for Saturday."
Rob Atkinson is fit after a groin problem, while John Mousinho trained with the group yesterday for the first time since suffering a knee injury five weeks ago.
New signing Mide Shodipo is available to make his debut.
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