Leicester City are prepared to let Oxford United sign young defender Jon Ashton.

The Premiership new boys have told U's boss Ian Atkins that they will let the 20-year-old defender move to the Kassam Stadium, where he has had an outstanding spell on loan.

Atkins will ask chairman Firoz Kassam, when he returns from holiday, if the club can take him - to consolidate their excellent start to the season.

"Jon's the sort of lad that you want in the club if you want to progress," said Atkins. "I've sorted it out with Leicester and they've said we can have him.

"He's keen to come here, it's been a breath of fresh air for him to come here. He's not in Leicester's plans, he has enjoyed it.

"I know there are other clubs watching him, from a higher division, and I think it would be scandalous to lose him after he's performed so well for us.

"But he's also comfortable here, and he's comfortable in the knowledge that we will improve him as a player.

"And if he listens and he learns, maybe he'll have the opportunity to play in the first division again, because he's young enough to do it."

The Foxes have turned down a request from Oxford to take Ashton on loan until the end of the season.

"I asked Leicester if they will do, on the chairman's say-so, a long-term loan, but they said no," Atkins explained. "They say you either take him or you don't."

United's manager has a tough decision to make on who should start up front at Kidderminster tomorrow.

Andy Scott is favourite to fill the void caused by Julian Alsop's suspension, though that would be hard on summer signing Mark Rawle, who scored with his first touch for the club when coming on as a late substitute in Monday's 3-0 win over Swansea.

Scott, who failed a late fitness test on his injured ankle just before the Swansea game, said last night: "I trained today and it felt OK."

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