OXFORD United used a combination of methods to scout their new Dutch right back prior to making a decision on signing him.

Hidde ter Avest became United’s 14th addition of the transfer window, arriving as a free agent following his exit from FC Utrecht earlier this summer.

The U’s utilised data and video analysis, as well as watching ter Avest live while he was at Utrecht last season.

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United head coach Des Buckingham compared the 27-year-old’s playing style to that of Joe Bennett on the other side of the defence at left back.

Buckingham said: “Hidde will join us at right back, so another defensive bit of cover in that space.

“We’ve got Sam Long who can cover both, and we’ve brought Peter Kioso in as well, so it just gives us a bit more in that space to do something a little bit different, and make sure we’ve got cover should we need it, and is another very good addition to our defensive backline.

“He’s very technically good, and probably a similar type to Joe Bennett on the other side.

“He’s able to get forward and will join in the attacking moves, but it gives us the ability to build things in different ways, similar to what we currently do on the left.”

ter Avest played for FC Twente and Udinese prior to his three-and-a-half-year stint at Utrecht.

Buckingham said: “We’ve got a pretty big recruitment team and the way we look at it, data is one part of that.

“We have a couple of platforms that we take data from, but it’s not just about looking at one thing in isolation.

“We’ve got a lot of video that we have, through different things like Wyscout and different packages, but we have also been over to see him live several times, so it’s a combination of different people seeing him with their own eyes, reports, data and video, to make sure we get the right player in to play the style of football that we want, and we’re happy with what we’ve been able to find here.”

Buckingham added: “He’ll bring something different to that space. We’ve brought Peter Kioso in, and he’s been very good since he came in, and we know Sam can play that role, but can also cover at centre back.

“Hidde will just give us a different option. It may look congested at the moment, but we know how quickly that can change.

“If it changes, we have the depth now in certain areas to hopefully cope and not drop off levels.”