Matty Taylor in danger of missing out on return to Memorial Ground with injury

Matty Taylor could miss out on a return to the Memorial Stadium after picking up an injury in his most recent match.

His current club Oxford United are Bristol Rovers’ opponents in an FA Cup first round replay this evening.

Taylor however is a doubt for the match after injuring his arm in the goalless draw with Ipswich Town on Saturday.

“I think he milked it a little bit, so we’ll see,” said Robinson to the OxfordMail, when assessing his team selection.

“I know how he was yesterday, but I’m sure we’ll have a better understanding of where that is.”

So far this season, Taylor has scored six goals in 15 games for Oxford, which has him ranked as their top scorer alongside James Henry.

Whilst his absence would take some edge off the match, his importance to the side could give Joey Barton’s side a better chance of progression.

Should he be available, he would play in front of the supporters who once adored him, for the first time since 2019.

Taylor did play at the same ground last year but the matches were played behind-closed-doors, which meant no reception was reserved for him.

In the last match, two weeks ago, he scored and assisted Oxford’s two goals, but they weren’t enough to put the U’s into the next round.

After scoring his goal, in his celebration, he cupped his hand to his ear, which is a salute which means ‘I can’t hear you’ which would have been directed to his former fans.

The 31-year-old previously spoke about how the negative chants spurred him on but did complain about how some abuse crossed the line.

“I was expecting a bit of volatility, so it was nice to get a goal,” he said to the Oxford Mail in reaction to his goal.

“I’ve said before. I enjoyed my time there immensely and made friends for life, that’s tarnished with a few fans.

“There’s a few that step over the line with a few chants and that spurs me on to make sure I score.”

Another player that could make a return for the opposition is Billy Bodin, who spent three years with Rovers before leaving. He was later sold to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee but is now at the Kassam Stadium, where he has struggled for game time.

Bodin himself played with Taylor up until the striker’s controversial departure to bitter rivals City, which means there could be a differing of opinions if both line up against Rovers tonight.

The one-time Wales international was given a home by Rovers after recovering from an ACL injury and enjoyed two-and-a-half years there, winning promotion to League One in 2016.

“It’s a club that got me back into football and helped me massively in my career, “ the Welshman said to OxfordMail.

“I’d come back from my ACL injury and didn’t have a club.

“They took a chance and helped me progress my career.

“I’ve got huge respect for the club, especially the fans and all the staff that were there at the time, so it’s a club that means a lot to me.”