Oxford United's want-away striker Craig Davies has capped a miserable month for the club by handing in a written transfer request.

As the Oxford Mail revealed last week, United had been told that the Wales international would not sign another contract at the Kassam Stadium - no matter what they offered him.

And Davies put his request to leave the club in writing before Saturday's 3-2 home defeat to Grimsby to put the icing on the cake of an instantly-forgettable month.

United have picked up just one point from their last 18, and sit 15th in the League Two table - just five points of a relegation place.

To make matters worse for United, winger Chris Hackett was sent off for a two-footed tackle, and he must now serve a three-match ban.

"We're letting goals in, and we've only got one point in 18," said Talbot.

"It's obviously disappointing and people will be unhappy. We have got to turn it around because November's been a nightmare."

After hearing that Davies would not sign a new deal with United, manager Brian Talbot subsequently left the 19-year-old out of the squad for last week's LDV Vans Trophy tie against Leyton Orient, and omitted him again at the weekend.

He explained: "In October, Craig's legal advisor said that he was not going to sign a new contract.

"I called him in last week to ask him what the situation was, and if we offered him a good deal, would he stay?

"He said no, I'm not staying, I want to leave the club, so I told him that he'd better put it in writing.

"He's now done that. In my opinion though, it's disappointing, because he's a 19-year-old boy who is learning the game.

"He has done well, but has got inconsistencies to his play, which we have seen this season. We are here to try and help him, and want to make him a better player.

"But when people respond like that, you are disappointed. And it disappoints me even more when it's with one so young."

Talbot reiterated that Davies wasn't in his team at the moment because he didn't consider him among his best 16 players.

"You've got to try and play your best team," said the manager.

"Sometimes people don't want to be at a club and they've got to perform well to get another club. Circumstances will dictate - with performances and results - whether he plays or not."

Speculation is now rife that United will look to sell the unsettled striker in the January transfer window.

He has already been capped by John Toshack, but his value will decrease if he's not getting first-team football.

"I don't know what money we'd get for him," Talbot said. "Other managers will decide what he's worth.

"I suppose he's young, he's learning . . . maybe in a few years' time he'll regret how he's handled this situation.

"It's all very well speculating that people are going to be interested, but until it actually happens, he'll have to give his best for Oxford, I presume."