Oxford United testing boost as they line up friendly with Championship side ahead of Portsmouth play-off

The U’s have confirmed their entire first-team squad and staff tested negative for Covid-19 in a second round of tests which were carried out on Monday.

It means Karl Robinson’s squad, whose first set of results also came back negative on Sunday, are free to step up training for their double-header against the Blues.

Meanwhile, their preparations for their two-legged play-off will gain further momentum with the Kassam Stadium outfit also revealing they have a friendly against a Championship side lined up for the weekend.

On Sunday, it was revealed that Pompey’s first round of testing also came back with no positive results for coronavirus.

However, the club await news on the latest tests, which were conducted at the start of this week.

Speaking to Oxford’s official website, manager Robinson said: ‘It’s good news that we have got the all clear for a second time.

‘The lads enjoyed being back together in groups of five on Monday and Tuesday and worked really hard.

‘Their levels were excellent anyway but they trained well and deserve a day off today, then they will be back on Thursday and Friday and we can expand those groups a little and work with bigger numbers, still observing all of the correct protocols that are in place.

‘It’s important that the training round feels safe for all of us and I have to say that everyone was very respectful of the rules and the new world that we are training in.

‘Now we need to get match sharp before we play Portsmouth and we had more good news with the EFL giving us permission to play friendlies behind closed doors over the next couple of weeks.’

Robinson added that special measures will be in place for the U’s to fulfil their friendly commitments.

He said: ‘We will play a Championship side away at the weekend and that will be new to us as well: no pre-match as a group, no team bus, no changing room; so many of the things we take for granted on a match-day can’t happen at the moment so we will be getting match fitness with everyone playing 45 minutes but also looking at match-days and making sure our preparations are spot on, as they always are.’

At present, Pompey are still to announce details of expected friendlies.

However, manager Kenny Jackett is hopeful Pompey will be able to find warm-up opposition ahead of a likely return to action.

Both the Blues and Oxford are awaiting news on when their play-off semi-final fixtures will take place – as well as the final against either Fleetwood or Wycombe.

It’s been confirmed, though, that Wembley will host the League One play-off final.