CONNAL Trueman has joined Oxford United on an emergency goalkeeper loan.

The 25-year-old moves from Sky Bet Championship club Birmingham City and goes straight into the side for tonight’s Sky Bet League One clash with Fleetwood Town.

The loan is initially for seven days, so would include Saturday’s visit of Rotherham United.

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It comes after United postponed Saturday’s trip to Wigan Athletic following a Covid outbreak that left them without a senior keeper.

Head coach Karl Robinson said: “It was one of those ones we knew of, he’s played league football.

“We’ve looked at a number of different options, but thanks to Bow (Lee Bowyer, Birmingham manager).

“We rang a load of managers and it was about finding that one who was available and willing at the drop of a hat to say yes.

“This was 9 o’clock last night, he’s here and he’s ready and raring to go.”

Trueman’s only Birmingham game this season came in the Carabao Cup first round in August, with the stopper behind Matija Sarkic and Neil Etheridge in the pecking order.

He joined the Blues as a youngster and has played 44 senior games in his career, 13 of them in the Championship.

Trueman came up against United three times last season, while on loan at AFC Wimbledon and then Swindon Town.

He was in goal for a 1-1 Carabao Cup first round draw at the Kassam Stadium in September 2020, which the U’s won on penalties.

The stopper returned to Grenoble Road for a 2-0 Sky Bet League One defeat on Boxing Day.

He was then sent to Swindon on an emergency loan in March and started their 2-1 home defeat to United. Trueman’s arrival ends Karl Robinson’s hunt for a keeper, with his four most senior players in that position all unavailable.

Simon Eastwood was one of seven players to test positive, with 18-year-old Kie Plumley also isolating as a close contact.

Jack Stevens is recovering from glandular fever and Mackenzie Chapman on loan at Banbury United.