OXFORD United under 18s’ title ambitions are having an impact on plans to blood young players in the first team during the next month.

With the side’s Sky Bet League One status realistically secure, boss Karl Robinson wants to use the remaining five games to take a closer look at the club’s talents coming through.

But the youth team still have plenty riding on their remaining games.

Having won the EFL South West Youth Alliance in the first half of the campaign, they are top of Merit League 1 with three games remaining.

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The side, managed by Leon Blackmore-Such and Chris Hackett, continue against Yeovil Town tomorrow at Northcourt Road in Abingdon (11.30).

And while the first team has priority, Robinson does not want to have a negative impact on the chances of success in the academy.

He said: “This is the conversation we’ve had.

“Sometimes you bring players to go on the coach and experience it. But also when does that overshadow actually playing? Or winning a trophy?

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“You’ve got to make sure the under 18s are ultra-competitive and I’d love them to go and win another trophy. So you’ve got to be sure if you’re bringing them with you.”

Slavi Spasov and Fabio Lopes were handed debuts earlier this season, but the next to follow suit will be the 100th player to step up from the youth set-up since United joined the Football League in 1962.

The most likely is defender Nico Jones, who has twice been an unused substitute for the senior side recently.

While the under 18 games all clash with the first team, the best opportunity appears to be over Easter, when they have a blank weekend.

The senior side host Charlton Athletic on Good Friday, before visiting Shrewsbury Town three days later.