KARL Robinson has until tomorrow to decide on who he wants to cut from his Oxford United squad to free up space for reinforcements.

The deadline for EFL clubs to register their 22-man squads for the first half of the season is tomorrow.

Olamide Shodipo's loan signing on deadline day meant the U's now have 22 players who count under the rules, which have been brought in this season alongside the salary cap.

Anyone who was under 21 on January 1 this year does not count.

But after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Peterborough United which saw the side slump to the bottom of the Sky Bet League One table, head coach Robinson revealed he still wanted to strengthen.

The only players available now outside of the transfer window are free agents - players not already contracted to clubs.

Also read: No panic over Oxford United slipping bottom – Elliott Moore

With Robinson looking at senior players, it would mean having to leave space for them when the squad lists are submitted.

The free agent does not need to have signed before tomorrow's deadline, but there would have to be a slot open.

If United did not go on to sign anyone, the contracted player within their squad who had been cut could be added at any time - but they could not feature for the club while they were not on the list.

EFL rules state:

The League will only consider granting permission to make changes to the squad list outside of a transfer window where:

  • the club’s current squad list contains less than the maximum number of players permitted to be included on the squad list and the club wishes to add an out of registration player or another player registered with the club but not currently included on the squad list, or
  • in other truly exceptional circumstances.