OXFORD United will not look into signing a free agent to help fill the void left by Liam Sercombe’s serious knee injury.

The influential midfielder was yesterday ruled out for six months – effectively the rest of the season – after scans revealed he had ruptured a medial knee ligament against Shrewsbury Town last Saturday.

It is a big loss to the side, with Sercombe hardly missing a game since signing in May 2015.

In previous seasons the U’s would have considered making a short-term signing to cover such an absence, but loans have been banned outside of a transfer window.

The only available players are those without a club, as Port Vale did with Ryan Taylor last month just before they faced United.

But head coach Michael Appleton has ruled out a similar move, backing the remaining players in his squad to take up the slack.

He said: “The likelihood is if you bring someone in like that they will be very unfit.

“We will wait until January to freshen things up, I think there are enough options in central areas and we’ll try to use them to the best.”

Sercombe tweeted he was “absolutely devastated”, but vowed he would be back.

United are yet to discover whether the 26-year-old will require an operation, although it is thought the return date will be roughly the same regardless of the surgeon’s decision.

Appleton admits it is a big setback and knows a tough road lies ahead for a player who hates missing games.

He said: “It will be a massive blow to him, as well as the players in the squad.

“He suffers quite badly when he’s not in the team, or if his form isn’t great.

“When he’s got a niggle he’s a bit of a nightmare because he wants to be playing.

“He has a big test personally to get over, but he can help the players and the players can help him get through it.”