League leaders Oxford United have received a welcome boost with news that top scorer Rob Duffy will be back in action sooner than expected.

The striker has been nursing a broken hand and went for an X-ray which revealed that the injury was not a serious as first thought.

"The results of the X-ray are very positive," United physio Neil Sullivan said.

"The bone has stayed in the same alignment, which was important, and it's knitting together well.

"His fibreglass cast is off now and he has two thermaplastic splints - one for playing in, which protects the hand a bit more, and one for general use."

"Rob was very keen to play last Saturday but we felt it was quite a risk and had he got another knock on it, that could have put him back two or three weeks.

"I know he's desperate to play this Saturday and we'll have to see how he gets on with this new cast, which is much lighter."