OXFORD United fan favourites past and present gave Billy Bodin the inside track ahead of his move to the Kassam Stadium.

The winger signed a one-year deal with the U’s yesterday, following his release from Preston North End last month.

One of the 29-year-old’s teammates at Deepdale was midfielder Ryan Ledson, who joined from United four months after Bodin arrived from Bristol Rovers in January 2018.

The midfielder enjoyed a great relationship with U’s fans during his two-year spell at the club and gave a glowing reference.

“I’ve spoken to him a lot,” Bodin said.

“I only came back down south a couple of days ago, so I met up with him last week and had a chat.

“He had nothing but good things to say.

“He loves this club and told me a lot about the manager and a few of the boys.”

Billy Bodin: This is a good move for me

Bodin’s spell at the Sky Bet Championship club was overshadowed by injuries and he played just 44 games in three-and-a-half seasons.

It was hugely frustrating for the one-time Wales international, who scored an impressive 37 goals in 107 Rovers matches to earn a £500,000 move.

He was part of the side that won promotion from Sky Bet League Two in 2015/16, finishing one place behind the U’s.

That season, Bodin and current United No 9 Matty Taylor scored 41 goals between them and the forward is looking forward to reviving that partnership.

He said: “We had a great relationship on and off the pitch.

“I’ve spoken to him in the last few weeks and I can’t wait to get back on the pitch with him and do what we did at Bristol Rovers.

“He was the main man and scored a lot of goals, so I can’t wait to try and help him out and hopefully he’ll be banging them in again.”

Bodin is United’s third summer signing, following Marcus McGuane and Ryan Williams through the door.

The U’s begin pre-season today as they plot another Sky Bet League One promotion challenge, having tasted play-off disappointment in the last two campaigns.

Fact file: Key details about Oxford United's new signing

And the forward is encouraged by what he sees behind the scenes.

Bodin said: “I met the manager a few weeks ago and from what he was saying it definitely seems like a Championship club.

“Even the training ground and the pitches seem a lot better than League One training grounds (normally) are.”

U’s fans will doubtless notice Bodin began his career at arch-rivals Swindon Town, where dad Paul – himself a former Robins player – is a club legend.

The forward knows how much the rivalry means, but he is prepared to take the flak.

“This is a club that’s going places that will help me kick on,” he said.

“I know a few people in Swindon might have a few things to say, but it’s my career and I think this is going to help me move forward.

“I might get a bit of stick, but you’ve just got to brush it to the side and move on.”