DES Buckingham has dismissed rumours that Sonny Perkins’ attitude was the reason for his lack of playing time at Oxford United.

The 19-year-old striker was recalled by parent club Leeds United on Wednesday evening, having made just six appearances in all competitions for the U’s.

His last game for United was in the 2-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town on November 25, one of just three Sky Bet League One games he featured in.

The forward played just five minutes of league football for the U’s after joining on a season-long loan at the end of August.

READ AGAIN: Sonny Perkins recalled as Oxford United close in on new striker

United head coach Buckingham said: “He’s trained extremely well and been very good around the group, I think that’s important to stress.

“But when you’ve got Mark Harris and Gats [Gatlin O’Donkor] in the building, it’s been very difficult for him to get game time, and I spoke with him about that.

“It’s important for his development that he gets games. It’s a timing thing for me. I can’t speak for what was before, but it wasn’t the right thing to do, to throw him and have a look at whether he can or he can’t.

“I haven’t had a pre-season with him or the time to work with him and see him, so it’s more a timing thing and it’s better for his development to go back and get games, whether that’s at Leeds or somewhere else.

“It allows us another loan move to go and look at a player where we may need somewhere else.”

Perkins scored one goal for the U’s, netting the opener in the 5-0 win at home to Chelsea Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.