THE loans of Tareiq Holmes-Dennis and Wes Burns at Oxford United have be cut short.

Both players were due to stay for the rest of the season, but with the U's unable to make assurances of regular first-team football, the pair have left.

Holmes-Dennis has returned to parent club Charlton Athletic while Burns has joined fellow Sky Bet League Two side Cheltenham Town.

David Hunt has also left United, having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

Mark Ashton, United's chief executive, said: "The problem is we can't guarantee them the playing time.

"We knew that when we took them and we have been talking to both clubs over the past week.

"They have been great for us, but the decision is understandable - they came out to us to get game time."

Despite having no senior experience, Holmes-Dennis immediately impressed when he joined from Charlton Athletic in October.

The deal was extended in December, but the signing of fellow left back Joe Skarz on a permanent deal this month meant he was not going to feature regularly.

Burns joined in November and after a promising start the winger has had limited game time in the past few weeks.

That, plus the expected arrival of Alex MacDonald later today, means the 20-year-old will head back to Bristol City.

MacDonald is the first of three players the U's hope to sign by the end of the day.

They are still waiting for an answer from Tyrone Barnett, while the third target is further off.

United have had several bids for an unnamed midfielder turned down, but will continue to work on it today.

Ashton said: "We are trying to get an established midfield player out of another club.

"The issue is they believe they are in a position where they have a chance of being promoted and he's playing every week."