SIMON Eastwood will nurse a knee injury tonight, but Oxford United are confident

it is not taking a risk on the goalkeeper aggravating the issue.

The U’s No 1 has been playing with the problem for a couple of weeks.

Given his importance to the side, an injury would come as a big blow, but Eastwood will be patched up to face Bury in the Checkatrade Trophy and then given extra time off to rest up.

Head coach Karl Robinson said: “Medically we feel fine (about it). If it was a risk he certainly wouldn’t be involved.

“His knee is sore, but he will get himself through the game. We’ve just got to limit his kicking.

“He’s got five days off after it just to let it settle. He’s on tablets to bring the swelling and pain down, but he said he’s fine.”

United plan to start Ahmed Kashi, which is likely to mean John Mousinho is given a rest, but with no game this weekend Robinson will name a strong side.

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The home side’s line-up is due to include Nicky Maynard, who had a trial with the U’s this season.

Robinson was keen to sign the striker, who has scored 12 goals in 23 appearances for the Shakers.

He said: “I’m happy for him. I wish he was scoring those goals for us, he would have made a massive difference.

“He had a real bite to him, which I liked when he came in. But they are things which have moved on.”

TONIGHT’S LINE-UPS

Bury: from Murphy, Stokes, Aimson, Thompson, Adams, Mayor, McFadzean, O’Shea, Danns, Telford, Maynard, Lavery, Moore, Omotayo, Cooney, O’Connell, Miller, Maloney.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Hanson, Hanson, Nelson, Dickie, Ruffels, Kashi, Henry, Brannagan, Browne, Mackie, Graham, Whyte, Sykes, Carruthers, Mousinho, Garbutt, Long, Stevens.