TONY McMahon is missing out on a Valley Parade reunion through injury.

The defender is sidelined for Oxford until after Christmas with a cracked rib.

McMahon was recently back at the club for the Stephen Darby appreciation night – and took to the stage to give his version of events over what happened before he was released by City in the summer.

But he won’t be in the visiting ranks this weekend after sustaining the problem against Forest Green in the FA Cup.

McMahon told City fans last month that he was “left in limbo” by the events of January after chairman Edin Rahic rejected a bid from Scunthorpe.

He said: “From day one, I didn’t want to leave. I wanted a new contract but the chairman said ‘we’re not selling you and not giving you a new contract’.

“But I couldn’t have asked for a better three-and-a-half years.

“There are probably only two clubs I’ll remember as a player when I retire. One will be Middlesbrough, where I came through, and the other will be Bradford City.

“The support I’ve had from everyone was brilliant. It was all down to hard work.

“I wasn’t the most talented footballer but I did my best and I wound everyone up.”

Oxford, minus McMahon, made short work of League Two Forest Green in their midweek replay to extend the club’s impressive unbeaten run to nine games.

It is some recovery after a sticky opening to the season which saw the U’s drop to the bottom of League One at the start of last month and turned the heat on boss Robinson.

Oxford lost eight of their first 11 league games but owner Sumrith “Tiger” Thanakarnjanasuth kept faith in his manager – and has been rewarded with the recent upsurge.

Robinson remains confident that Oxford can continue to ease away from trouble.

He added: “We’re now nine unbeaten with eight clean sheets in 11 games. That says everything about our team at the moment, but we still know there is a long way to go.”