ASHLEY Smith-Brown has joined Oxford United on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season.

The left back, 21, will provide competition with Ricardinho, who has been the only specialist in the position all season.

He is the second player to make the switch from the Premier League leaders this month, following winger Isaac Buckley-Ricketts.

Smith-Brown completed the paperwork this afternoon, before training with his new teammates for the first time.

He said: "I got a call from City saying Oxford were interested and it was a pretty easy decision.

"I’ve heard such good things about the club from Isaac and City were saying the same, so I’m delighted to be here.

"With City doing so well it’s always difficult for youngsters to break in, but I feel this is the right step for me in my career right now and coming to Oxford is a good opportunity."

Smith-Brown has not played a senior game for City, but spent last season on loan in the Netherlands, where he made 29 appearances to help NAC Breda win promotion back to the top-flight.

  • Clips of Ashley Smith-Brown during his loan i the Netherlands Credit: NAC-BredaTV​

He moved to the Scottish Premier League with Hearts on loan last summer, but a series of injuries limited the England Under 20 international to just three appearances.

United caretaker boss Derek Fazackerley told United's official website: “He’s a good player who has been on our radar for a while now and when he became available in this window we moved quickly to bring him here.

“Having played for England through the age groups he fits the bill technically and athletically and to have played over 30 games in senior men’s football will only have helped him physically and in terms of regular competitive games.

“He is a natural left-back, a position where we have had to play a right footed player a number of times this season, so that will help us with balance, provides excellent competition for places, and also leaves us less vulnerable elsewhere because of his versatility.”