Oxford United's hopes of keeping Karleigh Osborne have been dashed – because the on-loan defender did so well.

Osborne has returned to Brentford, with the League Two club turning down Darren Patterson's request to extend the loan for a further two months.

He was one of two players to leave United yesterday.

Wide midfielder Levi Reid was the other, with the 25-year-old asking to be released from his monthly contract at the end of September for personal reasons.

The former Port Vale, Stafford Rangers and Macclesfield player had been travelling down from the Stafford area and, with a young baby who has not been well, he was keen to return to Staffordshire, where he will continue to play part-time.

Reid had scored twice in his five starts and five sub appearances, netting the second goal in the 6-3 win over Eastbourne Borough, and then the last-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Ebbsfleet.

Although he had a slight dip in form at Lewes last Saturday, when he was partly to blame for the Rooks' equaliser as the part-timers recovered from a goal down to beat the U's 2-1, Osborne had been outstanding in previous games, and his departure is a blow.

Brentford manager Andy Scott watched the 20-year-old's impressive performance when Oxford United beat Cambridge 3-1 last week.

U's boss Patterson said: "Karleigh has done ever so well for us and we did make enquiries to keep him here longer, but Brentford wanted him back and I'm gutted.

"Levi is a smashing lad, but over the last couple of weeks he's been worried about his baby, who has been ill, and his partner, and he was finding it difficult to do the travelling.

"He couldn't really commit to moving down here because he is only on a short-term deal, so he asked if we could come to an agreement.

"I believe he has been offered permanent work and he wants to carry on playing part-time closer to home, so he leaves with our blessing.

"We wish them both well in the future."

Meanwhile, Eddie Hutchinson returned from his knee injury to play 90 minutes in a behind-closed-doors practice friendly against Brentford at the Bees' training ground yesterday.

Fellow midfielder Paul Evans also played the full match, while Chris Willmott, Barry Quinn and Matt Day all featured. The U's lost 2-0.