WE are expecting to find out today if Oxford United are going ahead with tomorrow's home game against Fleetwood Town.

The U's postponed Saturday's trip to Wigan Athletic hours before kick-off after seven players tested positive for Covid, with young goalkeeper Kie Plumley also isolating as a close contact.

The rest of United's squad will be tested before they enter the training ground this morning and tomorrow's fixture surely hinges on the results of those swabs.

Read also: Karl Robinson opens up on Oxford United Covid outbreak

Robinson revealed those who tested positive before the Wigan game were Simon Eastwood, Anthony Forde, Elliott Moore, John Mousinho, Mark Sykes, Matty Taylor and Jordan Thorniley.

They are now isolating and their return date depends on when they began experiencing symptoms.

Even if no more players are found to have the virus - which we obviously hope is the case for health reasons even before football - the U's are clearly very depleted.

Karl Robinson has a 24-man first-team squad, but take out the seven Covid absentees and Alex Gorrin, Jack Stevens and Sam Winnall - out through illness or injury – and that number drops to 14.

Also unavailable is Plumley, who has been on the substitutes' bench in recent weeks due to Stevens' absence, with the young goalkeeper isolating as a close contact of a positive result.

If no more cases emerge, the available first-team players are:

Goalkeepers: None.

Defenders: Sam Long, Luke McNally, Steve Seddon, Jamie Hanson.

Midfielders: Herbie Kane, Cameron Brannagan, James Henry, Marcus McGuane.

Forwards: Gavin Whyte, Ryan Williams, Billy Bodin, Joel Cooper, Nathan Holland, Dan Agyei.

It is clear United are lightest in defence, with their first-choice centre backs and top four goalkeepers all absent.

Robinson detailed United's efforts to sign a keeper on an emergency loan on Saturday morning and you would hope they can seal a deal before tomorrow night.

The U's have more options in midfield and attack, although in Taylor and Sykes they are missing regular starters with a combined 12 goals this season.

Providing United can bring in a goalkeeper, they will need at least three more players to fill a bench.

Forward Tyler Goodrham may well have returned from his successful loan at Hayes & Yeading United at the right time, while 17-year-old midfielder Josh Johnson is a Robinson favourite and has made four appearances this season.

Meanwhile, teenage centre back James Golding made his debut against Tottenham Hotspur Under 21s last month and could be an option, especially with the U's light on defenders.

Other youngsters involved with first-team squads this season and not currently out on loan include strikers Gatlin O'Donkor and Adam Smith, as well as right back Ben Watt.

Things could change very quickly, but now could be the time for United to really demonstrate their strength in depth.