SAMIR Carruthers’ injury is not as severe as first feared, but Oxford United are still weighing up whether to sign player to cover his absence.

The 25-year-old completed a full pre-season after joining on loan from Sheffield United, but hobbled off in the first half of the U’s opening league game last Saturday.

Scans revealed he damaged knee ligaments in the 4-0 defeat at Barnsley, but the news was relatively positive.

United head coach Karl Robinson said: “We think it will be two months.

“It’s not a rupture, it’s a slight tear and with those type of injuries they are generally six to nine weeks.

“We thought on Saturday it might be three months, but we were lucky with the scan. He will be back in October, which is not too bad.”

Carruthers is one of five loan players in the U’s squad, which is the maximum permitted in an 18-man matchday squad.

But his absence until the autumn creates an opportunity to bring in a sixth temporary loan signing.

“It certainly does and that’s what we’re considering,” Robinson said.

“That opens the opportunity to do something after the window closed last night, which is great for us.”