PLAYING in English football has been a target for Hidde ter Avest for a number of years, and he feels more than ready for what’s to come after joining Oxford United.

The 27-year-old Dutch right back joined the U’s last month following his exit from FC Utrecht earlier in the summer.

He had previous spells with FC Twente and Udinese, and it’s understood that Swansea City are among the Football League clubs that have previously shown an interest in signing ter Avest.

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Asked what attracted him to joining United, ter Avest said: “To play in the Championship, and I spoke with the manager [Des Buckingham] and technical director [head of football operations Ed Waldron], and they told me about the club, how they play, and how they reached the Championship, and it’s something that really attracted me, and I think it suits me.”

He added: “It’s really nice to play here. I had some friends who had played already in England, and they told me about it, and I want to experience it myself.

“You want to play, and get fully into training and games, so that’s something I’m fully looking forward to.

“There’s been a couple of times where there was contact, but for me now, it was the best time to come over and experience the Championship.”

New U’s teammate Ruben Rodrigues had a mutual connection with ter Avest, and the defender spoke to Rodrigues to get the lowdown on United before he joined the club.

“He’s a nice guy, and I knew him before a little bit because he’s a really good friend of a former teammate of mine,” said ter Avest.

“I spoke with him before I moved here, and he was very positive.”

The U’s have split right back duties between Peter Kioso and Sam Long so far this season, with both players starting two games each across the four Sky Bet Championship games that United have played in.

Kioso also started at right back in the two Carabao Cup ties, against Peterborough United and Coventry City.

Such competition though is welcomed by ter Avest, who said about the right back position: “First of all, you have to be defensively strong, and at the end, I’m a player who wants to go forward and be involved in the attacks.

“That’s something that really suits me, and the way of playing that they’ve showed here is something where I can fit in.

“You need competition in every team. It brings you to a higher level and the team to a higher level, so it’s always good to compete.”