United seal Connolly deal

Article by Dan Church Friday, January 31st, 2014  

Oxford United completed a transfer deadline day swoop for Portsmouth striker David Connolly.

The 36 year-old arrives at the Kassam Stadium from the fellow Division Four side on loan until the end of the season.

The former Republic of Ireland international has made 20 appearances for Pompey this season, scoring five goals for Richie Barker’s south-coast side.

Connolly spent the latter half of last season at Fratton Park during the clubs relegation from Division Three before signing a two-year contract with Portsmouth back in May 2013.

United becomes Connolly’s eleventh club he has played over his professional career, including a wealth of experience from playing in the Premier League.

The forward has been on the books of Southampton, Sunderland, Leicester City, West Ham United, Watford, Wigan Athletic and even a spell abroad with Dutch outfit Feyernoord.

Connolly, who has scored nine goals in 41 international caps for his country, has a fine goalscoring record stretching over his illustrious 20-year career, bagging 141 goals in 323 starts.

The striker trained with the Yellows squad on Friday morning and signed the necessary paperwork in time to be included in United’s squad to face AFC Wimbledon, another of Connolly’s former associates, at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Caretaker manager Mickey Lewis was delighted to bring in his top target: “He is a good player and has scored goals wherever he has been.

“Most of his career has been at the very highest level and he works hard, brings others into play and is always a player you have to guard against. He is here until the end of the season and I am sure will do very well for us.”

Meanwhile Connolly was equally pleased to be joining Oxford: “I am really looking forward to it. The club are in a very strong position and is set up for success and I want to play a part in that.”

And lastly; chairman Ian Lenagan, who has indicated he will take his time over appointing a new permanent manager after Chris Wilder’s resignation last weekend, added: “We have been looking for an additional striker throughout January, with extra budget allocated. Oxford United have a great chance of promotion this year and this improves those chances.”

This entry was posted on Friday, January 31st, 2014 at 4:08 pm and appears under News Items. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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