Oxford United have received a blow on the eve of their FA Cup clash with Northwich Victoria this Saturday.

Ipswich Town have turned down United's request to extend striker Jordan Rhodes's loan for a second month.

It means the outstanding 17-year-old forward (pictured), who has been a revelation since arriving at Oxford, has now returned to Portman Road, leaving the U's looking for a replacement striker for the weekend's vital first-round tie at the Kassam Stadium.

Rhodes had been the one real shining light in a depressing last month for Jim Smith's team.

He produced a superb performance on his full debut for United when they won 1-0 at Farsley Celtic, and scored both goals as the Blue Square Premier side scraped through their FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie 2-1 at Merthyr Tydfil.

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton granted Oxford permission for Rhodes to play in the FA Cup then, but with their youth team facing some big games in the next fortnight, they wanted him back.

United secretary and general manager Mick Brown confirmed: "We have tried to come to an agreement, but Ipswich wanted Jordan back for their youth team against their local rivals Norwich this Saturday.

"They then have the FA Youth Cup coming up and they have done well in that competition in recent years.

"He has also been called into an England Under 18 squad, and would have to report on the Saturday when we play Ebbsfleet United (November 17). We asked whether he could report after playing for us, but they wanted him back.

"Ipswich were fairly adamant that they wanted him to play against Norwich this Saturday, which we can understand, because there's local personal pride at stake.

"We'd also inquired about the possibility of him going back to play against Norwich and then us taking him for a second month after that. But if the loan isn't continuous, you are not allowed to have an instant recall clause, and they wouldn't accept that.

"So the loan's finished now and he's gone back, which is a big disappointment to us. "He's a good young player and he did very well in his month on loan."

Although he is currently away, it's believed manager Jim Smith will be looking at what alternatives United have for Saturday, and that will depend on whether any of his injured players can recover fitness in time.

Trying to get another player in on loan is notoriously difficult with the FA Cup as clubs generally do not want their better players cup-tied.

Smith's own future is uncertain following the humiliating 5-0 defeat at Rushden last Thursday - United's worst defeat at non-League level for 47 years, and since they crashed 6-1 at Cheltenham Town in the Southern League in February 1960.

His position will be discussed at a board meeting tomorrow night.

Smith expressed his disappointment about Rhodes's recall to the club's website. "It's a shame, but all we can do is thank him for his efforts here," he said.

"Jordan is a player with a bright future ahead of him and we all saw the potential during his month with us. We wish him well and will certainly keep an eye on how his career progresses."