RYAN Williams is not expected to return in time to face former club Rotherham United on Saturday.

The Oxford United winger injured his thigh in last week’s Emirates FA Cup defeat to Bristol Rovers and failed a fitness test before Tuesday’s win over Fleetwood Town.

His absence would be a blow for the U’s, with a Covid outbreak leaving just 13 senior outfield players available for the clash with the Sky Bet League One leaders.

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United are particularly light in defence and Williams, who played for the Millers between 2017 and 2019, has already filled in at right back this season.

Head coach Karl Robinson said: “He got a knock on his thigh, he’s struggling.

"He’ll be a big miss for us because he’s almost our only other defensive cover.

“He can play right or left back and we can move Sedds (Steve Seddon) inside if we have to.

“It really limits the opportunities we have with that defensive cover.”

Simon Eastwood, Anthony Forde, Elliott Moore, John Mousinho, Mark Sykes, Matty Taylor and Jordan Thorniley are all isolating with the virus, as are some members of staff.

Robinson said: “Two or three aren’t great, I don’t think it’s fair to say who they are. One or two have breezed through it.

“Some people seem to get away with it and some people are bedridden, the staff who have the virus have been the same.

“Hopefully this is the end of it for us."

There were no further positive tests this morning and the U's boss revealed this was extra significant.

He said: “It takes us out of red protocol, so we can start meeting inside again and going into the gym in small groups.”