Oxford United manager Darren Patterson has signed midfielder Jamie Hand on emergency loan from Lincoln City until the end of the season.

He played in the friendly at Witney United and is in contention to start in Saturday's trip to Forest Green Rovers in the Blue Square Premier.

It will be Hand's second spell with the U's having played 12 times on loan from Watford in 2004.

Further loans deals at Livingston, Peterborough, Huddersfield and Northampton followed before a permanent move to Chester in the summer of 2006.

The hard-tackling midfielder played 50 games that season before moving to Lincoln City at the start of this campaign, where he made 20 starts.

He becomes Patterson's fifth loan signing, along with Matt Green, Justin Richards, Michael Howard and Michael Blackwood and the United boss was delighted to have him back at the club.

"A lot of Oxford fans will remember him and won't need reminding of his quality," said Patterson.

"He is very determined and has good ability on the ball and I think he will complement Adam Murray very well in the middle of the park.

"He'll be another good addition to the squad, in an area I felt we needed strengthening."