OXFORD United midfielder Michael Collins has joined York City on loan.

Collins, 29, will go straight into the Minstermen’s squad for tomorrow’s home game with Cambridge and, with Luke Summerfield and Eddie Nolan still expected to be sidelined, has a good chance of making his full debut for the club.

The former Republic of Ireland under-21 international made 43 appearances for Oxford last term, including only two as a substitute, but has not featured at all this season despite being manager Michael Appleton’s first signing in July 2014 after taking charge of the club.

Collins made his professional debut at the age of 17 for Huddersfield, where he stayed for six years before joining then Championship outfit Scunthorpe in 2010 for an undisclosed fee.

Having made 20 appearances for Russ Wilcox’s 2013/14 promotion-winning team, either side of a loan spell with AFC Wimbledon, he then moved to Oxford.

In total, Halifax-born Collins has played 338 games as a professional and scored 26 goals.