CHRIS Maguire says the prospect of working with Michael Appleton again meant Oxford United were the only Sky Bet League Two club he would have considered joining.

The striker, who has two senior caps for Scotland, turned down interest from clubs in League One to join on loan from Rotherham United last week.

He came straight into the starting line-up, playing an hour in the 1-0 win at Hartlepool United which sent the U’s top of the table on goal difference.

The 26-year-old did not take the decision to drop into the fourth tier lightly.

But the previous link with Appleton, for whom he played under for half a season at Portsmouth in 2012, was the key to the deal.

“I think that swayed it, because there were other League One teams I could have gone to,” he said.

“The main thing was I knew the manager and I wanted to come and get game time, while helping the boys.

“It was a hard one because I’m dropping down two divisions, but at the end of the day it’s a month to get football and get back fit.

“I’m coming to a team that’s doing well and top of the league.”

Appleton expects there will be much more to come from the striker, whose career has included spells at Aberdeen and Sheffield Wednesday.

A lack of first-term football in recent weeks meant he was not match sharp on Saturday.

But the U’s boss believes the move will be very beneficial and hinted it could even be extended beyond January.

He said: “There’s no doubt about it, Chris has got Championship quality.

“He will be fine, the fans will take to him and he will be good for the club while he’s here.

“Going forward hopefully he can help us by scoring and assisting a couple of goals, in the long run if that benefits him and he goes on then so be it.

“But if he enjoys it and likes the environment then we will see what can happen.”

Maguire has not been given permission to play for United in the Emirates FA Cup, so will miss Sunday’s second round tie with Forest Green Rovers.

But there are still eight other matches he could feature in before the initial loan expires and the frontman is keen to play a prominent role.

He said: “I’m here until January 16 and until that time I’ve just got to get my head down, work hard to get a couple of goals and help the team stay up the top of the league.

“The Christmas period is a busy one and that was a factor of why I wanted to get out and play games.”