Ricky Holmes is back at Sheffield United after having his loan at Oxford United cut short.
Holmes was due to stay with The U’s until the end of the season, but injury has affected his game time in recent weeks.
In fact the forward played just twice since November 17 before his stay at the Kassam Stadium was ended prematurely.
Holmes has had scans on the back problem that has kept him out. The results suggested the 31-year-old would not be back to full fitness for another eight weeks.
With Karl Robinson’s side battling against relegation in League One they could not afford to hang on for the winger. Robinson needed money freed up in the budget to bring in other players.
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However, that does not mean that when back to match fitness, the club won’t try and re-sign Holmes.
“Ricky’s gone back to Sheffield United. That’s not something we’ve closed the door on, we’re speaking to Sheffield United about a different type of contract,” Robinson told the Oxford Mail.
“If he gets himself fit in eight weeks he might have eight or nine games left to go, could he come back in for that time?”
(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
What next for Holmes?
A little over a year since signing for the Blades it already looks like the attacker’s time at Bramall Lane is over.
Manager Chris Wilder had been pursuing Holmes for some time. The duo had previously enjoyed success together at Northampton Town.
Yet it soon became apparent after signing last January that he was not cut out for Championship football. Holmes managed five appearances for United before joining Oxford United in August.
With his current deal with the Blades expiring this summer, could the club be tempted to rip up his contract in eight weeks time? Then the former England C player could join The U’s for free.
