FOR the second time in little more than a year, Oxford United have signed young striker Danny Philliskirk on a month’s loan.

The 20-year-old Sheffield United man returned to the Kassam Stadium yesterday, to strengthen United’s forward line following a new ankle injury for another loan signing Andy Haworth.

Philliskirk trained with United yesterday and is in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Gillingham in npower League Two.

He first joined the U’s on loan from Chelsea at the start of the 2010-2011 season, playing once – in the first game back in the Football League at Burton Albion.

Philliskirk returned to Chelsea before signing a permanent deal at the Blades last summer, joining the club his father, Tony, used to play for.

The youngster netted the winning sudden-death penalty as the Blades beat Hartlepool in the Carling Cup, but has had limited first team chances since.

However, he has scored seven goals in nine reserve team matches.

The U’s were keen to bring in another forward after Haworth suffered an ankle injury at Macclesfield, which is likely to keep him out of action for up to a month.

Manager Chris Wilder said: “We know all about Danny and what he can do. He knows the set-up here and we are delighted that he has come back.”

Rob Hall will come back into the line-up for today’s trip to Gillingham, withWilder knowing his side face a real test of their promotion credentials.

Hall’s last-gasp equaliser at Macclesfield saw the U’s climb to third, although they dropped to fourth after Cheltenham beat Accrington Stanley last night.

But Wilder is aware that a really tough run of games will show just how far his side have come this season.

“Six of our next seven league games are against sides that are in the top nine at the moment,” Wilder said.

“Gillingham would be expected to be in and around the play-offs, and are there on merit.”

They go into the game on the back of an impressive 5-2 victory against Torquay, and only Port Vale have scored more goals than Andy Hessenthaler’s side.

Gillingham: from Flitney, Richards, Martin, Lawrence, Fish, Whelpdale, Weston, Rooney, Montrose, Nouble, Kuffour, Gazzaniga, Davies, Essam, Evans, Payne.

Oxford Utd: probable Clarke, Batt, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Heslop, McLaren, Leven, Potter, Constable, R Hall. Subs from: Smalley, A Hall, Payne, Whing, Kinniburgh, Brown, Philliskirk.