Oxford United confirm Joel Cooper set to go on loan for rest of season

The former Linfield man's last appearance for the club came in the Papa John’s Trophy game against Walsall on November 10.

He has since returned to Norther Ireland

and is not expected to return to England until next summer.

Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford head coach Karl Robinson said: “Joel’s got two issues back home at the moment and finding it very difficult to be over here.

“He spoke to me on the phone and wants to go back to Ireland until the summer.

“The situations that have arisen won’t be an overnight thing that we’ll be able to click our fingers and make better.

“He will go on loan back there until the summer, while the situation hopefully starts to be solved.

“Hopefully he’ll be in a better place for it when he comes back.”

Cooper joined Oxford from the Blues in the summer and Robinson says the wide man has the full support of the club at this time.

“These are all things that have happened since he signed and were completely out of our control," he added.

“He knows our thoughts are with him.

“He’s a tremendous young man, very brave in the fact he’s taken the risk coming over here and not having his family here.

“His welfare is the most important thing.

“I sometimes sound like the evil dragon that’s constantly shouting fire and anger at people but there’s also a side of humility and respect for all the people that play for our football club.

“This isn’t football, it’s other things that are going on.”