OISIN Smyth has been linked with a move away from Oxford United.

The 24-year-old midfielder is rumoured to be close to a move to Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

St Mirren are managed by former Northern Ireland international Stephen Robinson, with his number two being the current Northern Ireland senior coach Diarmuid O’Carroll.

The reported move would therefore be appealing for Smyth, a former Northern Ireland Under-21 international, whose contract expires next summer.

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Smyth has found regular game time hard to come by since joining the U’s from Dungannon Swifts back in January 2022, however this newspaper understands that he is highly regarded by United head coach Des Buckingham, and was set for a more prominent role next season, particularly if the U’s were in Sky Bet League One.

However, promotion to the Championship may have further limited opportunities for a player who made just 16 appearances this season. Just 10 of those were in the league, and only two were starts.

He did however score a late wonder goal against Charlton Athletic on New Year’s Day, a strike which saw him earn the club’s goal of the season award.

St Mirren are set to play in European competition for the first time in 37 years after finishing fifth saw them earn a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.