CAMERON Brannagan will be sidelined for longer than expected after a second scan on his knee injury revealed more damage than expected.

Oxford United boss Karl Robinson had said the midfielder could be back for this weekend.

But he has revealed that was partly designed to not give anything away to opponents Ipswich Town, who have postponed the fixture due to international call-ups.

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The latest scan has ruled him out of the Southend United game on November 23, but he might be available for the next Sky Bet League One clash with Shrewsbury Town two weeks later.

Robinson said: “I think it’s going to be another four weeks. It was a bit worse than we expected.

“I’ll be honest, we knew before the game with Ipswich (was decided).

“We just didn’t want it to get out there.”

It is part of what should be a big reduction in the injury list over the next few weeks.

Josh Ruffels will be fit for Southend, while Jamie Hanson is due to start full training the following week.

Ben Woodburn, who broke a bone in his foot at the start of October, flew out on Sunday for warm weather training with Liverpool.

It is hoped he could be back in action by mid-December.