Sunderland have been handed a big fitness boost, with Jack Ross hoping to see Charlie Wyke back in training next week.
The striker is yet to feature for the Lads after swapping Valley Parade for Stadium of Light due to a knee injury sustained with Bradford City during pre-season.
Wyke will remain on Wearside, as will Tom Flanagan, Aiden McGeady and long-term absentee Duncan Watmore, when Ross’ side travel south to face Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon this week.
But the Sunderland boss is hoping to see the striker back in training after the away-day double-header.
"He’s getting ever closer, " said Ross.
"We will travel tomorrow and be based in the London area for the remainder of the week with the fixtures we have, but Charlie will stay behind with the other guys and work here.”
He continued: I’m hoping that by the start of next week he’ll be able to join in with the rest of the group, which is ahead of the schedule and a bonus for us.
"It might be that the Oxford game comes too quickly, but there might be an outside opportunity of him being involved around that time.
"What we’ve managed to do is knock off these fixtures and gain positive results without his presence, and hopefully we can do that again across the rest of the week, and by the time we play Oxford we might have him back."
Meanwhile, the Scot revealed Donald Love, Dylan McGeouch and Adam Matthews are expected to travel south with the squad.
“Adam is responding okay and he’ll travel with us, but we’ll have to wait and see how he is.
“I’d be hoping he’s available for the game at the weekend, but Wednesday is maybe touch and go.”
He added: “Dylan’s not quite ready, but all being well he will travel south with us.
“Donald Love will travel with us as well, even though he hasn’t really done anything with the group.
“Hopefully the two of them will come back into contention.”