Long Looking for Blackpool Return

Oxford United defender Sam Long should be available again when the U’s travel to Blackpool on Saturday.

United’s long-serving defender made his return from injury in the home game against Barnsley but was forced off after suffering a cut on his forehead. As he told www.oufc.co.uk, he has now been given the all clear and should be involved again when the U’s travel to Bloomfield Road.

“It was frustrating enough with the initial injury” he said “but then I got caught by his arm, totally accidentally, and had to go off in the first game back.

“They stemmed the bleeding quite quickly and I went to see a plastic surgeon the next day to get it looked at to make sure there is no long term damage- I’m getting married in the summer!

“But the frustrating thing is to then have to miss more games even though I felt fit and well. The medical team here are brilliant and are aware of all the procedures we have to follow, and it’s important to do that.

“The cut is a lot better now and I should be OK for the weekend although I’ll have to wear a protective bandage. I’ve been wearing that in training as a precaution as well and you can imagine the stick I have been getting!

“But I don’t mind that. I’ll happily put up with a bit of banter if it means I can be involved again. It’s a big game and we need to start turning the draws of the last two matches into wins. I can’t wait to be part of it and am really looking forward to Saturday now.”

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