Matty Taylor has completed his return to boyhood club Oxford United on a season-long loan, all-but ending his two-and-half year stay with Bristol City.
Taylor has just 12 months remaining on his deal at Ashton Gate and having not made the last three matchday squads for the Robins, it's clear he has little long-term future in BS3, although the loan agreement does include an option of a January recall.
On Saturday, head coach Lee Johnson admitted the 29-year-old wants first-team football, something he cannot guarantee following the deadline and promotion of Antoine Semenyo into a first-team role.
Taylor underwent a medical at his former club having not made Johnson's 18-man squad against QPR on Saturday with Oxford confirming the news on Monday afternoon.
The Oxford-born forward joined his hometown club in 2007 but only made 11 appearances in the Conference Premier before departing for Forest Green Rovers in 2011 where his career really kicked off.
After 24 goals in 106 appearances at the Gloucestershire club, Taylor then signed for Bristol Rovers - rejecting Oxford in the process - and became a firm favourite at the Mem with 68 goals in 134 games over two-and-a-half seasons.
But a controversial switch to City in January 2017 destroyed any relationship he had with the Gas support, while simultaneously making him a cult hero for the Robins.
Despite a growing fanbase due to his committed displays and mercurial talent, he was never really trusted as a full-time starter by Johnson and of his 67 league appearances, 43 were off the bench.
Oxford host Burton Albion in League One tomorrow night before a trip to take on Bristol Rovers at the Mem on Saturday, which is likely to be a hostile atmosphere for Taylor.
