OXFORD United are weighing up whether to send midfielder Josh Ashby and striker James Roberts out on loan in the near future.

Both players featured in a behind closed doors friendly for Vanarama National League side Torquay United this week.

Boss Pep Clotet is considering the possibility of the duo getting valuable minutes elsewhere.

But an approach for Roberts has been turned down with United short of options in attacking areas following Rob Hall’s injury.

Clotet said: “They played a game with Torquay, because they are players who need a lot of games, especially Ashby who is coming back from a long injury. We are assessing the situation.

“But Ashby does need to play somewhere where he can find his football again and we are working a lot so he can get out on loan.

“But then we have Roberts. My focus might be to keep James here while we are in this period with a couple of injuries.”

Both players are products of the U’s youth set-up and have tasted first-team football during their short careers.

But for different reasons, their chances have been limited over the last few years.

Ashby, 21, ruptured knee ligaments in February and made his first appearance in 18 months when he featured as a substitute in the Checkatrade Trophy last month.

Roberts had to wait a similar amount of time for a late cameo against Bristol Rovers six weeks ago.

He burst on to the scene as an 18-year-old, scoring five goals in eight appearances during Michael Appleton’s first campaign in charge.

But injury and issues in his personal life have limited Roberts’ opportunities to handful of cup games since.