AARON Martin believes Oxford United will gain from Sunday’s opponents Bristol Rovers having their EFL Cup match last night screened on television.

The first-round tie at home to Cardiff City was moved to last night so it could be covered live, prompting United’s visit to be shunted back 24 hours.

While the U’s have video analysis sessions before every game, the centre back felt he would be able to pick up useful pointers from being able to watch the Pirates’ whole 90 minutes.

Rovers won the game 1-0 after extra-time, thanks to Chris Lines's strike.

Martin said: “We always watch a lot of stuff anyway, but when you watch them a few days before I think you can really get to grips with how they will play.

“It’s good for us.”

The centre back has had an eventful opening week of the season.

A nasty blister on the sole of his right foot ruled him out of last weekend’s opening league game.

But with Chey Dunkley picking up and injury, Martin was pressed into service at Birmingham City on Tuesday.

Playing 120 minutes was probably not what the doctor ordered, but the summer signing was pleased with his U’s debut.

He said: “It’s always frustrating when you have to miss any game, but especially the first game.

“Hopefully everything has cleared up now and it should be fine from now on.

“It’s very sore, I won’t lie, but I just have to get on with it. It’s a frustrating pain, but I’m doing everything I can to keep it under control.

“You’ve got to be very careful with blisters. I think they’re a very underrated injury.

“It doesn’t sound that bad, but when it’s on the bottom of your foot and it’s all you can feel it’s very painful.

“I’ll see how it feels when I come in on Friday morning and go from there.

“I want to train, I want to play and I just have to grind through it.”

Martin excelled alongside fellow new signing Curtis Nelson at St Andrew’s.

The pair had struggled in their previous outing – a 3-3 draw at Barnet in pre-season – but the former Southampton trainee was never worried.

He said: “I know it shouldn’t be any different, but it was a friendly.

“I won’t lie, I was struggling during the game and I didn’t feel fully fit.

“That’s out the way now. We’ve moved on and you could see from the Birmingham game where we’re at and where we’re going.

“As long as we continue that, we’ll be all right.”