GAVIN Whyte has become the second winger to re-join Oxford United in less than 48 hours.

The 25-year-old returns on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship outfit Cardiff City, with the U’s beating several clubs to his signature.

Whyte spent the 2018/19 campaign at United after signing from Northern Irish Premiership side Crusaders and scored nine goals in 47 matches.

He joined Cardiff City for an undisclosed fee two years ago, but struggled for game-time after a bright start.

Whyte is expected to watch today's friendly at Bristol Rovers from the stands, before joining the squad for full training on Monday.

The forward is delighted to be back, adding: “I wanted to go somewhere I’d be loved and I was loved here the first time around.

"It made it a bit easier to come here and I’ve glad I’ve made this decision.

“I just need to get in at the start and show what I can do.

"In the last couple of years I haven’t played enough.

"When I first went to Cardiff I played a lot more than I thought I would, but there’s a few managers that came in since and I didn’t have a rhythm."

Whyte’s move comes less than two days after the signing of Nathan Holland, who joined on a season-long loan from West Ham United.

After notching 50 goals in 162 appearances for Crusaders, the U’s gave the forward his first chance in English football three years ago.

He scored three times in his first five matches and found the net less than two minutes into his senior Northern Ireland debut in September 2018.

A hat-trick at Shrewsbury Town the following April was the highlight of his first spell and Whyte moved to Cardiff for an undisclosed fee that summer.

He featured regularly to begin with under Neil Warnock, but after Neil Harris was appointed Bluebirds boss in November 2019 he made just five starts before being loaned to Hull City in January.

Karl Robinson hoped to bring back Whyte then, but the winger instead joined The Tigers and played 20 times, scoring four goals, to help them win Sky Bet League One.

The U's head coach said: "We always want two players of real quality for every position.

"We protect ourselves from all eventualities to make sure we have the best opportunity to compete.

"Gavin’s an exceptional footballer, we’ve seen that.

"It only seems like yesterday he walked in the building.

"It’s really good to have him back and I’m really pleased to add to the squad."