Oxford United’s out-of-favour midfielder, Jamie Cook, is set for talks with Conference club Rushden & Diamonds – but admits he doesn’t really want to leave the U’s.

The 30-year-old, who returned to Oxford for a second spell, from Crawley, in a £5,000 deal funded by the fans last September, has been out of the first-team picture at United for several months.

And at the end of last season, United manager Chris Wilder told Cook – who can also play as a striker – that he would be available for transfer.

It’s thought that Crawley Town boss Steve Evans is also interested in taking Cook back, though the Witney-based player admitted when he re-joined Oxford that he was delighted not to have to commute along the M25 to Sussex any more.

Diamonds boss Justin Edinburgh has made contact with Cook, who confirmed: “There’s a couple of clubs wanting to speak to me. Rushden is one of them and I’m going to speak to them. The other one is also a Conference club.

“But I don’t really want to leave Oxford,” he stressed. “I love Oxford United and I was so happy to come back.

“But I’ll go there (to Rushden) and see what the situation is. Obviously I’ve got another year on my contract, so I could just sit here, but that’s no good.

“The manager has basically said I’m not in his plans and I want to play football. The thing is, I want to play for Oxford United . . . it’s a horrible situation really.”

Cook, who started with his hometown club Oxford United back in 1997 and made 77 appearances, scoring seven goals, scored a sensational goal in his return home match, against Luton at the Kassam Stadium on September 8.

He also found the net in the next two games he played at the Kassam Stadium as United thumped Eastbourne 4-0 and Grays 5-0.

But after scoring in the FA Cup second-round tie at home to Barrow on November 28, and then disappointing in the replay at Holker Street, when Oxford were beaten 3-1, Cook managed only three more starts all season.

“It was my dream move to come back to Oxford and it started so well, but then it didn’t work out after that,” he said.

“That’s football. Sometimes you just have to accept it and get on with it.”