Sam Smith among players set for fitness tests ahead of Cambridge United’s trip to Oxford United in League One
Cambridge United will be putting a number of players through their paces before selecting the squad to take on Oxford United in Sky Bet League One on Saturday (August 6).
After the 1-0 win over Millwall in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, U’s head coach Mark Bonner explained that substitute Sam Smith picked up a dead leg late in the game.
He was not the only one to feel the effects of a physical match against the Championship side and, without giving any names, Bonner explained that quite a few will be given the once over ahead of the trip to the Kassam Stadium.
“I hope so,” he said, when asked if Smith would be available. “It’s 9.15am currently [on Thursday morning] so he’s probably in with the physio at the moment.
“We’ve got about six players that need checking after midweek so our prep work will have to take place Friday rather than Thursday because we’ve got a few to see where we’re at.
“We may have to make changes to the team even if I didn’t want to - I might have wanted to anyway.
“We’ve got to check in with quite a few between now and the weekend. We will see where we are come Friday afternoon as to which team we pick.
“Hopefully, all those that have got knocks are able to play but at the minute they walked away quite wounded on Tuesday.”
Bonner added: “It was a physical game the other night, lots of knocks and dead legs. It’s why you have a squad, and we’ll have plenty of those throughout the season.
“We’re pleased with how everybody is shaping up and we know we’re probably four to six weeks away from being at our best, physically.”
United had made nine changes from the team that beat MK Dons 1-0 in the first League One game of the season last Saturday to the one that defeated Millwall, with just George Williams and Joe Ironside keeping their places.
Read more:
‘It’s the hardest team I’ve had to pick’ - Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner after Millwall victory
Greg Taylor over the moon to make Cambridge United return in Carabao Cup win over Millwall
